.FLorever.

The thing that first drew my attention to this series of compilaions a couple years back were the hot chicks on the covers. Call me crazy, but if u really know me, u’d know how i love looking at beautiful girls. As I’ve always said, there’re 3 good things in this world: good music, good food and beautiful girls. Anyway, these covers do reflect the some aspects of the music-sexy, elegant, mesmerising. Perhaps they are an inspiration to Stéphane Pompougnac, the DJ/musician/composer who put these compilations together.

From France, this series collects the music that he played at the famous Hôtel Costes, where celebs hang out and where Pompougnac met Madonna, who was in love with his music, and whose “What it feels like for a girl” was later remixed by the French-born musician.

Relaxed but highly rhythmic, slick but friendly, the pieces are more than just background music and almost exactly what i’m looking I’m looking for in lounge music. I have yet to collect all of them. I like how they’re all varied but create this over-all seductive vibe when put together. My favorites so far: “All I Want”, “Diferente”, “A La Peche”.

Oh by the way, don’t steal music, guys! I know it’s hard, but please try your best!

It was over 12 years ago the last time my whole family was in HK. Now that we’re all here again, it feels kinda funny, especially when we have to set a time and place to meet up instead of going everywhere in a car all together, like in the past. It feels like this should be a check point to see all the changes in everyone and in our family as a whole.

First of all, I’m so glad that my dad made a decision for our family to move to Canada. It was very tough at the beginning and I felt like I had no choice. I hated getting up at 4 in the morning to go to airport to leave infinitely for a place I hardly knew. I wanted to get off the plane as soon as I got on it. For quite a long time, we felt lost living in Vancouver trying to find a place to settle down. We were trapped in a basement, surrounded by stacks and stacks of cardboard boxes that contained our belongings. I didn’t have my own room and there was no privacy. The weather was bad and every conversation I heard between my parents and their friends was about trivial things like where to get a SIN card, where to get cheap groceries or furniture. I had to go to boring places with my parents everyday. I couldn’t find any cute stationery in the stores. All I found were dull pencil cases and plain binders. Basically I wasn’t given what i needed as a teenager. I was stuck.

However, now that I look back, it’s all worth it. I definitely gained a lot in a totally different environment which opened my eyes. As for my the rest of my family, the changes are obvious.

My dad changed from a bad-tempered chauvinist to a caring husband. He used to be in control of everything without listening to opinions. He would shout at my mom furiously over little things, which made me wonder why my mom would marry him. Since he got a stable job at London Drugs, he has been “tamed” and become much easier to talk to. Now his relationship with my mom is a lot stronger. I guess things can get better when u feel safe with a job and a religion.

My mom has become happier and has less to worry about than when she had to take care of a cafe with my dad. Those 3 or 4 years in that cafe must have been exhausting for both of them. I remember seeing how my mom grew old in those years. Now she’s a typically carefree housewife. And although I don’t totally agree with their belief in Jehovah’s Witness, it’s undeniable that my parents have become calmer and more joyful because of it.

For such a static person, my brother surprisingly accomplished the most. He’s becoming a dad. It was like yesterday when he still hung out with my mom all the time. Now he’s having his own family?!?! Hopefully this will force him to actually GROW. haha.

For me, hm…… too many to list. I can’t think of any aspect of me that hasn’t changed. Basically I turned from timid and quiet to daring and adventurous. I used to be too protected and taken care of. I wasted my time by pleasing others. Everyone referred to me as innocent. At some point I realized that I had to defy. Then I succeeded and finally became my true self. Also, I changed from being reconciled in stagnation to seeking progression all the time. I just want to keep exploring as long as I can.

Despite the fact that I’m far away from my family most of the time, we’re closer than we were when we lived together. I actually talk to them now. It’s that’s normal? Our 1st family dinner in HK after 12 years - guess who paid for it. Yeah, finally my turn! Yey~!

Yup. My first blog ever. Nothing really motivated me to start blogging. Usually I don’t like to talk about myself. But this time it really hit me. Recently something I regret and it’s not reversible. I wished there was such thing as a time machine.

You’ve heard me say it. Everyone who knows me has heard me say it. “I’m very busy”. However, I have to admit that even though I AM very busy for work, I never forget to have fun whenever possible. You have a party? I’m IN! It’s perfectly logical that I need RELIEF, or else i’d go crazy. Unfortunately, there was something way more important than having fun that I forgot.

2 days ago I went to visit my grandpa at the hospital. He was connected to a few machines. Except the movement of his breathing, he wasn’t moving. His eyes were closed. Not knowing if he could listen to me or not, I started talking to him. And before I left, I said to him, “bye grandpa, I’ll come see you again.”

And that was it. He was gone the next day, very early in the morning. I didn’t know I only had so little time with him. I’ve never had a chance to really chat with him. Before his last stay in the hospital, my heart had sometimes wanted to go and visit him, but the rest of me was occupied with work and fun. I thought there was always time left. And I was looking forward to celebrating his 90th bday coming up in a month.

Now one picture appears in my mind all the time. He used to call my nickname and have a big smile on his face whenever he saw me. A smile that he seldom showed to anyone else.

Last time I had dinner with him was after my grandma’s funeral. I wish they’ve met again somewhere.

Grandpa, I miss you and I love you. Wherever you are, I hope you’re happy.