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F1 2009, race no. 1 at Melbourne, Australia.

1st: Brawn GP

2nd: Brawn GP

Is this the sign of things to come this season?

Brawn GP getting a debut 1-2 finish is something not seen in F1 for a long long time. With Ferrari struggling, and so does McClaren (with the exception of Lewis who drived a superb race), the new face of F1 (or old, depending on how you look at it) has changed how the world sees F1 today.

No longer a 2 horse race for the driver and constructor championship. This season promise to be more open, unless Brawn starts to dominate the rest of the races. But you will not bad against MaClaren or Ferrari to get it right, sooner rather than later. So this season is one you should not miss. If you have never been a F1 fan , this is the year to be, as it has never look so exciting.

I do quietly hope the appeal will go though, but I got a feeling it will not, so Ferrari better have a backup plan or they can kiss this season good bye, after 2 races.

28 Mar 2009 - 2030hrs to 2130hrs…time to switch off those lights…and we did.

My elder son Denver was very excited about the Earth Hour event and keep reminding us about it. I guess he must have heard it in school and is very eager to participant. On the day itself, he keep counting down to the time and when 8.30pm finally came, he went round the house switching off all the lights and appliances.

Critics might say that this is all a commercial gimmicks but I do feel the Earth Hour does bring a level of awareness to a lot of people on the importance to protect our planet. Many might not even entertain the thoughts of protecting our planet, as they feel they may not live that long, and many might still feel that way, but it is important to focus on the additional number of people who will become aware as a result of this event rather that on those who don’t care.

But some do becomes a little too enthusiastic about it. For example, a family near my neighbour who obviously is a supporter of the environment, switched off their lights and went downstairs for a walk, it was all good, except when they allow their kids to scream at the top of their voice for others to switch off their lights. I feel this might give a negative effect to it as some might be irritated by the action.

Back to my son, we found ourselves talking about the planet and how we can do to help, and I think it’s a very good time of education to our future generations, who hopefully, will not be as wasteful and harmful to the environment as our generation.

1 month ago, there is only going to be 1 winner in the Barclays Premier League. Man Utd has not been beaten since Nov 08, Van der Sar just broken the clean sheet records, Man Utd has most of their injured back, and they have a very healthy lead at the top of the BPL which we all know at this stage, they rarely gave away.

Liverpool can only hope, and I believe even the most faithful of Liverpool fans wasn’t thinking too much of the title this season. The only way to have any real chance, abet a very very slim one, is the meeting with Man Utd, a chance to gain 3 vital points. And on a back of a superb win over Real Madrid, they repeated the feat against Man Utd. Hopes were raise, just a little, as Man Utd still have a 4 points lead, and a game in hand.

Next up for Man Utd is Fulham, a chance to restore lost pride, a chance for back slash, especially when they just murdered Fulham 4-0 at the same ground 2 weeks ago. A chance to silence any doubts anyone have against them retaining the crowd. Liverpool’s match is just a blip, now for the real masterclass. Well, it didn’t go quite as plan.

Having lost Vidjic due to suspension (for stupidly hurling down Gerrard when he has absolutely no chance), the young and promising Evans came in. But no one expected Fulham to start the way they started. They controlled the 1st half, played probably their best football, scored from the penalty spot (for a ex-Liverpoolian Murphy), and have Man Utd’s Scholes sent off in the process for deliberate handball.

Even with 10 man, Man Utd is expected to steamroll over Fulham. They unlease Rooney in the 2nd half, and control the game for a good 20 mins or so, but found the Fulham keeper in top form with saves, double saves, and more. Then on came Tevez, more terror fo Fulham, but they started to take back some control of the game and score a 2nd late on to kill off the match. They was still time for Rooney to be sent off (a bit harsh I thought, but who cares!).

So now it is back to back lost for Man Utd, a first in 147 games! With Chelsea losing to Spurs half hour later, Merseyside is sensing something. A chance to close the gap to 1 point, or will they choke?

Against Villa who is fighting for a Champions League spot, it is not going to be easy, and it will take the bravest to predict the margin of victory they will to have. Right from the start, Liverpool was at their throat, and reward early with a Kuyt goal. Villa tried to come back, and need Reina to be at his best. But a brilliant kick by Reina found Reira free and a first time volley almost broke the crossbar on the way in. 2 -0, and Liverpool is still not done. Any great ball releases Reira and Reo-cooker, played out of position, tripped in and it’s Gerrard time. 3-0 and it’s over, with lots of time still left to play.

An Istanbul fightback of their own from Villa? Not quite as just 5 mins into the 2nd half, a well placed Gerrard free kick puts them 4-0 up. Another 4 goals scored, another victory in the bag. When Torres runs free into the box, Villa feel the worst, but it was worst then worst. The Villa keeper came out, got nothing of the ball, and was sent off for bring Torres down. Gerrard dispatch the penalty in typically cool fashion for his 1st Premier League hat-trick and Liverpool fans will be celebrating well into the night for another excellent victory.

Man Utd, keep looking over your shoulder, you might not see us soon.

Dragonball, one of the most exciting comic series to come out of Japan. It has a large following and it has also been made into cartoons. The comic series runs long, from the birth and childhood of Gouku, the main character in the comic, to he growing up and saving planet earth with his special abilities, as he himself is not from earth.

The comic brings a lot of laughter, especially when Gouku is young, and has heartwarming scence as well as great fighting scence. But nobody has attempted to bring the comic to real life, until now.

Granted, Dragonball Evolution, as the movie is called, is just an adaptation of the comic series. That means don’t expect it to be what you read from the comic. It will be a tough act to follow. Gouku looses his tail in the movie, Master Roshi did not wear his famous turtle shell on his back, Yumchai is not as shy about woman as he is in the comic book, but all this doesn’t matter, as they made it clear that it will not be a copy version of the comic. But they did take quite a few of the important characters from the book, gave them the same ability/skills, and repackage them to current context, and choose certain scence from the comic book, plus adding their own intepretation for this movie.

So if you are looking to see the comic book come alive, well, it is not going to happen, but with the understanding you have from the movie, watch it with an open heart, and you will still be able to enjoy the movie. I don’t think they movie is very clear in defining some of the characters, but for someone who did not read the comic at all, I believe they are still able to enjoy the movie, which is the whole point. It might even spur them to want to read a little more about Dragonball.

Wow…what a week it has been for Liverpool. Even the most fervent fan would not think that they will ship 8 goals pass Real Madrid and Man Utd in one week. And boy did they did it so convincingly.

If anyone thought Liverpool will be doing another ‘Boro’ on a back of a Champions League win over one of the best team in the world, they were totally wrong. Liverpool put up another excellent display, and even allow Man Utd to score first, before trashing them 4-1. A trashing, if you look at Man Utd’s record, and you would agree this is consider a trashing.

Now the game is on, even though Man Utd is still the favourite to retain the Premier League title, it will make for a more interesting run-in. And how many teams can claim they do a double over the champions? Kudos to Liverpool, especially Torres and Gerrard! And not forgetting good old Rafa who did it again!

I recently started a new…hmm…what you call…a new….err….a new way of adding spices in our life at home, if I can say that.

It all started when I chance upon this fluorescent marker that is good to write on glass/mirror surface. So I started leaving messages to my spouse at the shower glass, the window, the mirror, and our wardrobe. My wife found the pen I hidden and started to reply and leave return messages.

What I realise at the end of all this seemingly ‘kiddish’ behaviour is that it actually brought us closer, as it add little surprises which is always good for the marriage life.

On top of that, my son started to get in the act and wrote some heartwarming sentences. And I think we want to keep it going so I bought the entire range of colours available.

Just this morning, I left a message for Denver, my elder son, on his breakfast table. I wrote this yesterday night after a struggle to make him sleep, which some unbelievable behaviour. But I do not want it to end like that, so I wrote a little note and this morning when he sits now for his breakfast, a smile broke out.

Such positive messages I believe will go a long way in strengthening our family bonding and relationship. Cheers!

Wow…it has taken me almost 3 months to write again. It’s not that I have lost interest in writing, but many things have overwhelm me so much so that I just couldn’t continue writing…till now.

So many things have happen in these 3 months that it will take many pages to fill. But I’ve decided to forget the past and look to the future in today’s post.

The economy crisis has been in the mind of most people nowadays and it is certainly on mine, especially with the crisis not likely to let up anytime soon. So I guess I have to relook into my lifestyle and make the necessary adjustment to it. But many times it is easier said than done.

With most part of our lifestyle committed before the crisis starts, things like our children’s education, our car, our house, contracts we’ve signed, installment we’ve taken up, etc…is not something we are at a liberty to change as we deem fit.

So what to do? Will have to bite the bullet and try and pull through, and make small adjustments along the way whenever circumstances allow.

While all these are going on, I have a trip to look forward in June. Something that was postponed from last Dec. Managed to claim 4 free tickets to Bali but now have to worry about the expenses when we are there. If we gave up the tickets, it will be such a waste, and if we go ahead, we have to worry about the amount we spend, what an irony!

Having saw on the SoShiok.com about the new Japanese Food Court that just opened at the new extension in Northpoint (Level 3), my family and I decided to pay them a visit yesterday. We felt it was a daring idea to open such style food court in the heartland so we went to check it out.

The setup was pretty impressive, wooden table that are clean (maybe because it’s new) with wooden stool (no back rest for you). There are about 10 stalls in all, I try to recall all that I remember, ranging from grill meat on a stick (Yaki style) with rice, rice burger, omelette rice, donburi, bento set, sushi, pizza & pasta, ramen and curry rice. OK, I only remember 9, maybe there are only 9, or maybe I forgotten some, so go check it out and tell me.

My wife tried the beef rice ($6.90) serve on a hot stone bowl, while I tried from the same store eating the chicken rice with egg set ($4.90). It was too bad, the hot stone bowl keep the food hot but right at the end some of the rice and meat are burnt, so don’t take too long to finish it. Portion feels a bit less though. My son tried the salmon omelette rice and he absolutely love it…finishing every last bit, and he has already planned what to eat the next time he is here.

The only problem I have is that the renovations are not complete, getting from the carpark out is a big problem, and I think the carparks will not be enough support the expected surge in crowd. But overall, the new Northpoint means a lot more shops to shop and a lot more eateries to eat (the Hong Kong eatery has such long queue!!!). So all is good, once the renovation is fully complete.

Yesterday I was on leave, and I have big plans for the day. But all the plans have to be thrown out of the window when my younger son woke up with a fever, and thankfully, a mild one. Than later in the morning my elder son starts to feel pain in the left side of his tummy, then pain grew and grew till he could no longer sit or stand, nor lie straight as he curl himself into a ball and scream in pain. Refusing to see the doctor, I eventually is able to carry him (after convincing him) to see the doctor.

Thank God that by the evening, both of them started to feel better and we even managed to catch a movie (at home) that I bought from iTunes - Kung Fu Panda. It was a hilarious show and if you have not caught it, rent or buy it to watch, you sure won’t be disappointed.

As you can see, things don’t usually go according to plan but we still have to continue planning, else life will just be a mess (if it’s not already is). It’s December and we have planned many things in December, and we just pray that the rest of the plan will fall into places. Cheers!

Liverpool has had a couple of bad games, or rather bad halves this season but none is close to the type of school boy football they played this morning against Tottenham in the League Cup. Yes, you know I have been a staunch supporter of Liverpool and don’t usually criticized them but the kind of football they played this morning is simply, using a Singapore slang, cannot make it ah.

Granted that perhaps 10 out of 11 might not have started a ‘proper’ league game if the whole squad is fit, and the no. 11th player just came back from missing 9 matches due to injury, I still expect the 2nd strings to put in a stronger performance. Misplaced passes, bad first touches, not much movement off the ball, non marking of players in defence, lack of communication, etc…everything you should not have done in a top class football match, they have done it. I’m sure this match will be taped and watched over and over again to show future generations of Liverpool players what they SHOULD NOT have done in a football match.

OK, let’s not take it away from Spurs, they did ring a few changes, keeping in-form Bent on the bench, and played extremely well, especially going forward. I was particularly impressed with Lennon on the right flank, and his willingness to track back and Campbell showed his desire to chase after every seemingly lost cause. BUT, Liverpool made their life much much easier and allow them to dictate the pace of the game.

This match further highlight the kind of work Rafa need to do to ensure the 2nd string of players are up to mark when called upon for 1st team actions. The good news is that we are not likely to see the same team play together again this season. I’m sure every Liverpool fans expect a player who puts on a Liverpool shirt in a football match to live up to the high expectation of him being a Liverpool player, and some of them really need to do some serious soul searching. I expect ruthless Rafa to ship some of them out at the end of the season.

Ngog was non existence up front, simply ball passed to him he couldn’t control it, never had a good first touch in the entire match, and misses most of his passes. Plessis, apart from his goal and his yellow card, did nothing to suggest he could anchor the midfield one day. Lucas was woeful in his passes, even simple ones. Degan seems to be always day dreaming. Agger is simply too casual (no wonder he is displaced by Sketel). El Zhar seems to have lost his directions, but at least he tries to play football. Cavalieri just needs to communicate more with his defenders but did an ok job apart from the mixed up that lead to the goal. Hyypia, despite doing very well, have to take some blame for not organising the defence well enough. Dossena tried but could have done much better. Babel was the only bright spark but held on to the ball too much at times (many times), perhaps knowing that if he passes it the others might lose it anyway. Torres just got back from injury so I am not expecting much from him. Insua and Alonso came on as a sub and spark the mini revivial till Gomes injury (a serious one) kill off any momentem Liverpool was trying to build.

If I ever see a similar line up again I will just switch off my TV set, and you know that I watch every single Liverpool match every season. Rafa was right in allowing the 2nd string to have a go, but they simply did not repay the faith. Players I want to see go? Ngog and Plessis definately, the rest I will give them a 2nd chance, but not playing together.