Category: My Good Life

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Diary

When I Attempt to Write Short Pieces – Part II

Previously, I have attempted to write short pieces (and there is a part three). And they are rather well received. So I am attempting to have a second round, with ten additional pieces. Enjoy.

PS. I would like to dedicate this post to those who share their stories and inspire me to write.

Today I am done running
I shall face my witness, my judge, and my executioner
I shall accept, come what may

Today you are my witness, my judge, and my executioner”

“Come What May” by Wilfrid Wong

What does falling in love feel like?
It is that sense of insecurity and reassurance, of anxiety and peace, of irrationality and determination, and of sorrow and joy

If you experience all of the above, hold onto it, treasure those feelings

That is the most beautiful thing you have ever experienced in life”

“Love is a Rollercoaster” By Wilfrid Wong

At times you are passionate
Other times you seem cold and distance
I am a slower learner
Given time I can read you better
And finish up this manual of you
Please be patience
That is all that I am asking”

“How To” by Wilfrid Wong

There are words that I shouldn’t have said
But I said it recklessly anyway
There are words that you shouldn’t have said
But I took it quietly anyway”

“Words” by Wilfrid Wong

Life can be full of surprises
Some you like
Others you don’t
You can’t pick what you like and what you don’t
But with an open heart, an open mind, and open arms
You can welcome life for what it bestows upon you
Be surprised”

“Surprises” by Wilfrid Wong

I have learned that each day I shall fight for what matters most
I have learned that life can be as unpredictable as the weather
I have learned to follow my heart and my passion
I have learned that I shall not take people and things for granted

To fight and to earn for what matters most
And never take that for granted”

“No, I Won’t” by Wilfrid Wong

The anticipation is killing me
The tens and hundreds of different scenarios
I hope at least one of these scenarios will lead to a happy ending
That is all that I am asking for”

“21:40” by Wilfrid Wong

Fate is catching up with me
I reach out but all I see is dark space
I would hold onto even a faint ray of light and hope
Having said that
I would accept
Or would I?”

“Acceptance” by Wilfrid Wong

Communion
Hug
Kisses
Holding hands
Sharing moments together
Love is a feeling and can only be made tangible with a physical connection”

“Getting Physical” by Wilfrid Wong

Life is beautiful
Having friends who care for you is beautiful
Having someone who loves you as much as you do is beautiful

Passion is beautiful
Having something you do that you care is beautiful
Having a reciprocated passion is beautiful

But alas, beauty can be fragile and as short-lived as a butterfly
When you spot beauty, admire but not contain
Let beauty has her freedom
Live one day at a time”

“Beautiful Butterfly” by Wilfrid
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Diary

The Melancholy Me But Why – A Cubism Doodle

By definition, the word melancholy as I have discovered today means to reflect deep sad thought with no obvious reason, which is not far from how I have interpreted it and how I have experienced it.

I enjoy spending time with people. But I also enjoy spending time alone observing, self-reflecting, and going through the process of art creation such as music, drawing, photography, and writing.

Ever since I bought a set of outdoor table and chairs, my balcony has become my favorite place in my home. I would bring my Sonos speaker out, fill up a glass of wine, and think.

Titled as “The Melancholy Me But Why”. It took me 8 hours to sketch and draw. The composition is straightforward with me drinking wine at the balcony.

I would go through the day, pick up the memorable bits – happy or sad – and run it through my head again and again. The process is no different from video editing. 12 hours may have passed and the day gets fragmented and stitched into a short video clip distorted with feeling and emotion amplified and the what-if and could have been.

I have been told that I am a melancholy person (perhaps that’s why I know what it is while not knowing exactly what it means). And I believe that at times, others know me better than I know myself. It is like a lens that I wear that prompts me to see the world in a veil of temporary sadness.

But why? I seriously don’t know.

It could be a self-balancing act. During the day, I tend to see the world in a good light, blocking off negative thoughts and observations. But this internal mechanism needs a recharge. When I am alone, I would need to come face to face with the suppressed emotion or thought. Not in its entirety. At least the significant bits.

Now, imagine, what if I had a terrible day? I would simply crash when I am alone. Until my internal mechanism of self-balancing gets recharged and kicked in.

This drawing can be viewed upside down as well, as I rest myself on the table.

There are happy days of course. A healthy salad bowl for lunch. Fresh paint. A nap that I wish I had (as I stayed late last night drawing this). The sound of the construction nearby. Anticipation and joy. A new pair of glasses. Sumptuous vegetarian meal. Christmas coming and people shopping for gifts. Smile. Laugher. More smile and laughter.

Even on a happy day like today, as I sit at the balcony listening to Lucia’s Without You playing through my Sonos speaker, overseeing the night view of the Singapore skyline, hearing the sound of the raindrop, and feeling the gentle night breeze, I can’t stop but think, what if today fades away and gets buried deep inside my memory that I can no longer retrieve in the far future?

Melancholy, a feeling of pensive sadness, tropically with no obvious cause.

What a wonderful day and a beautiful night. I shall end this post with a positive note.

At this very moment, I am happy.

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Diary My Hobbies

Home-cooked Food – A Cubism Doodle

Modern-day photography and videography capture a snippet of life. The reality in its entirety often leaves little for our imagination. Call me old school. I still prefer words and drawings. Such artwork too captures a snippet of life yet leaves much for the imagination. An alternative reality within the realm of actuality. A private interpretation of the hidden messages forever imprints onto the likeminded ones. Book clubs. Painting appreciation. Call me old school. I have my preference.

A cubism doodle titled “Home-cooked food”

Covid-19 has changed the way we live and the way we socialize. Many friends of mine now cook at home. We were used to catching up during lunch. Now, during dinner. As for me, I prefer healthy home-cooked food to outside food. I know what goes into the cooking. I know how the food is being handled.

Onto this particular drawing, I further explore the construct of cubism, or rather my interpretation of cubism. My third attempt and it took me a lot longer to draw than most of my previous ones. I love Coste di Moro – Montepulciano d’Abruzzo – an Italian red wine. And I would imagine, that bottle of wine would have been moved around. From the kitchen counter to the dining table. To various positions as it is poured onto the glasses.

I love salad these days. I think of avocado. Capsicum. Quinoa. Chicken breast. Salmon. Potato. Lettuce. Pickled onion.

An alternative reality. A parallel universe. A drawing that is no less than a photograph or a video clip.

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Diary

Words, Taking Them Back Or Not That’s the Question

One of the most common questions asked from my friends and acquaintances in parties, casual or business settings or one-on-one could well be, “do you have any regrets?”. Or “have you regretted doing or not doing this?”.

I don’t really.

Simply because my actions have been taken based on decisions I have made in the past. Now, you could question how sound the decisions were and the thinking process behind it. But regardless, I have learned and moved on.

Such mentality has also been reflected in how I play any given role-playing video game in contrast to how my buddy at work FG approaches his.

How role-playing game works is that you take on the persona of a virtual character, experience the virtual world, and continue making decisions that will affect how your character develops, very much like the real world.

FG would save the game before making a decision, continue playing that character for a little longer, and reload the game back to its previous state if he doesn’t think that he has made the most optimal decision. In real world lingo, FG turns back time at will and corrects his mistakes as the story unfolds. By doing that, he is more likely to end up with the most awesome character in that virtual world.

My approach is different. I seldom ‘turn back time’. My character would inherit all the good and bad decisions I have made and become a unique character with merits and flaws. Yes, life can be harder in this virtual world because more so than not, my character has to compensate for areas that he or she is not good at (thanks to me). But that creates a unique story, a unique narration that I can call my own.

Long story short, I very seldom regret in life.

Words are different. And I have been struggling with such contradiction from within. There are words that I truly wish to take back – be it as they are truth or lie or neither. Words were transmitted, which create a series of episodes in life that I may or may not be able to unwind; words that have to be fixed by more words to be said and more actions to be taken.

Then I am thinking, what is the difference between having little or no regret on decisions made in the past versus the words that I wish I could take back?

My first intuitive reply to myself would be, there is no difference. Hence, I do have regrets in life that I have blocked off and don’t want to talk about.

Or perhaps, the reason why I have little or no regret in life is that I have gotten over it. I may have felt bad during that period of time. But I no longer even bother wanting to change the things that I have done.

Upon pondering on this topic further, I believe there is a subtle difference here. For me (and I have to be specific as I can’t speak on behalf of everyone), when it comes to action, which goes beyond words, it is more often than not premeditated even under external influences. Words though can be heavily influenced by my mood or my current emotion. It could be the truth spoken or transmitted disregarding how the recipient would receive it (as in, not all truth are pleasant to the ears); on some occasion, it could be the lie born out of the circumstances (e.g. “Do you enjoy the food delivered to your home?” “Yes, it was delicious, thank you for sending it over”) or irrational as it seems, it could be words that are neither truth nor lie, just not meant to be said (e.g. “I wish you weren’t here” while in reality, I just don’t know).

In short, I need to think more before I speak or type.

Now, another way to look into this topic is that, why not treat it the same way as to how I approach a role-playing video game? As in, let the words be heard the way I have originally intended. Learn and move on. This exchange of words, which may have created some dramatic moments in life, may indeed be necessary. This is how people explore each other; this is how we understand each other and ourselves better; this could well be how the Universe has intended it to be.

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Diary My Hobbies

Snails & Escargots – A Cubism Doodle

I remember Freddy. He was a fellow Hongkonger whom I have met back in my university days. It was his first year in the UK, still imbued with Hong Kong culture. While for me, I had been soaked in Western culture for two years ahead of him. Hanging out with him was an interesting experience. He reminded me of myself when I first arrived in the UK and faced a foreign culture. Though I must say, I embraced Western culture more readily than he did.

It is hard to say if I was really into Freddy. We got along well, in the sense that I was and still am an adaptable person. He was a scholar and I wasn’t (though after four years, we both graduated as first-class honor). Very smart. Those who didn’t know him may find him arrogant. I just recognized the fact that he saw this world in a very different way compared to the rest of us. We had common hobbies and interests. Or rather, I have learned to develop common hobbies and interests with new friends. That is what I do.

Titled “Escargots & Snails”

Freddy introduced me to Pink Floyd, for which I am eternally grateful. Pink Floyd has inspired my music creation journey. We would talk about Shine On You Crazy Diamond night after night and would listen to it non-stop. Pink Floyd was our thing. I would head to the gigantic Blackmores bookstore in Oxford to read their biography. I would browse the magazines at WH Smiths to read their latest news. In fact, I have attended Pink Floyd‘s live concert PLUSE in the UK. That could well be their last gig in a ‘full band’ setting.

Freddy has also introduced me to escargots. I vividly remembered the expression he gave when he described the dish ”¦ it was so delicious, so out of the world. Eyes rolled back, all white. Fingers near his mouth, breathing in deep.

Initially, I found the idea rather repulsive. I could not imagine myself eating snails, no matter how starved I am. Then, I have done some research. These are not regular snails. These are farmed snails. Very much like frogs, I guess. I ate frogs when I was in Hong Kong. Frogs taste like chicken, in case you are curious. They really do.

I cannot recall when was the first time I have eaten escargots or whom I was with. What I do recall though is that when I was in a business trip working in Paris, one of my favorite starter dishes would be escargots. Either that or the live oysters.

If I am asked to describe escargots, I would not have done that Freddy impression. What I would say is that with the melted butter, the herbs, and the unique chewy texture, escargots really go well with bread.

One French friend told me that the escargot meat doesn’t belong to the shell it comes from. The farms supply the meat without shells. And the restaurants reuse the shells. I do not know how true it is. He or she might have pulled my legs.

Fast forward to yesterday, Y had dinner. Instead of oysters, she had escargots the first time (both are my favorites). I don’t think she was thrilled. But, that has triggered all sorts of memories, Freddy and my Paris business trip. At the National Gallery of Singapore and in one of the exhibitions, there were framed photos of snails placed on top of sand and dirt on the floor. That also triggered my recent memory, when I walked back home and in my condo and especially on a rainy day, I often saw snails crossing the path. I would carefully pick them up and put them onto the grassland knowing very well that they are in fact pests. I hardly see snails in my condo these days. The management office must have done a good job of exterminating them.

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My Hobbies

An Ox – A Cubism Doodle

I have always been intrigued by Cubism artworks. I could admire them for hours in a museum. Lately, an unspeakable emotion from within has ignited my passion to venture into art forms that are different from my own, yet enabling me to apply my personal techniques. I wanted to draw an ox. This is the outcome.

Titled “Ox”

Those who know Cubism (and disclaimer here – I am still learning) would know that interpreting one is not straightforward. Each of such artwork captures a combination of the following: the movement of the objects, their different viewing angles, and the temporal aspect.

Centered to this drawing is a ox viewed sideway (see illustration below). You can also see it turns its head towards you. Or lower its head to graze the grass. Or simply move around.

The challenge of completing this drawing is that, according to Cubism (and I hope I am getting that right), I would need to shade or color the ‘cubes’ in a certain way. Since I can neither shade nor color my drawing, I have to use patterns, while preserving the unique way of how I draw. This is my first attempt. In time, I will get better.

As a side note, I am using a different type of paper more for marker drawing. It has a very smooth coating, doesn’t absorb as much ink as the papers I use previously, and more importantly, the ink doesn’t feather. It does have its cons such as using eraser would leave a very faint visible mark on the paper when viewed at a certain angle. And the ink doesn’t appear as even at certain spots. Meanwhile, I am still undecided on the type of varnish to use – gloss versus matt.

Can you now see the ox facing sideway?
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Diary

When I Attempt to Write Short Pieces

Recently I read a book written by r.h. Sin. It is a book full of short pieces (poems?) and is a perfect book for the broken-hearted. I am so inspired that I want to try out writing short pieces (can’t call mine poems as yet, can I?). Here we go. Eight pieces in total.

PS. There is a part two and a part three.

If you love someone
Let her know today
Don’t wait
For tomorrow is not a given

If she upsets you
Forgive her today
Don’t wait
For tomorrow may not come

If you are happy or sad today
Remember every detail
Don’t waste the only opportunity you have
Today

“Today” by Wilfrid Wong

Commit all that you see
Commit all that you feel
Commit all that you experience
Commit all that you love ”¦ to memory

For we come to today with nothing
And we will leave today taking nothing ”¦ but memory

“Memory” by Wilfrid Wong

Do you feel the obsession?
Are you addicted to that one feeling that you can’t live without?

Good
Because you are alive

Live it

“Feeling Alive” by Wilfrid Wong

When I listened to you
I did not judge
But when it was your turn
You did not live up to my expectation

“Expectation” by Wilfrid Wong

What is that one thing that you can live with and live without?
When you find it
My congratulations
You have found love

“With or Without You” by Wilfrid Wong

Every second presents a thousand a million possibilities
You could sit back and observe
Or you could start to take action
In the end there is no right or wrong path
It is that one step you have decided to take
That leads to another set of thousands and millions of possibilities

“The Universe” by Wilfrid Wong

My body you have
My heart you own
My soul you possess
I am truly yours

“Body, Heart & Soul” by Wilfrid Wong

I listen to the Korean OST playlist
I feel the peace and the serenity within me
I remember each moment
The storytelling and the afterward

I feel as though I could go back in time
Like many of the Korean dramas
To relive each moment
I am the storyteller and you are my only audience

“22:54pm” by Wilfrid Wong
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Diary My Hobbies

Into the Souls When Reality Meets Fantasy – A Doodle

Some say that our eyes are windows to our souls. When we look into each other’s eyes long enough and when the conditions are right, perhaps it is possible to get a glimpse of what lies inside.

Titled as Doodle – Into the Souls When Reality Meets Fantasy

That very soul reaching concept forms the foundation of what I wish to articulate in this drawing. Two persons living in the same world when look into each other’s soul see something very different. The composition is very simple. Yet, I enjoyed furnishing the details as I carefully layered the different themes in building up to the concept of Into the Souls When Reality Meets Fantasy.

There are in total 7 layers including a hidden one.

In the foreground are the sea creatures followed by the ocean waves at the bottom. The third layer is the couple who are facing each other. The fourth layer is the flying creatures on top followed by the fifth layer – the moon on the left, the sun on the right, and the sunrays. The sixth layer – which also becomes harder to see and is intentional as objects closer to us reveals more details than those further – are two eyeballs that meet and slightly overlap. They are also facing each other like the couple.

To see the final and the hidden seventh layer requires a bit of imagination. It is an infinity sign if you trace the shapes of the slightly overlapped eyeballs. That is the unification of the souls, for eternity.

One final thought to share is the different types of creatures. On the left and those that belong to the boy are creatures of fantasy. Phoenixes that only exist in literature books and monstrous crabs in video games. On the right, which belongs to the girl, is what you can find in this world. Birds and crabs. Hence, what you see here is when reality and fantasy meet as the couple look into each other’s soul. That is the very contrast I wish to highlight.

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Diary

Let Love Be – A Doodle

November 2020 has its highs and lows. But overall, it was a memorable month. Yesterday I was on leave. And I visited the National Gallery Singapore. I could feel the passion and love around me; I could breathe it all in. It was good to be able to take my time, admire the artworks that I can relate to. And hope that I may get inspired; and that I can further improve my craft.

Hope.

Titled “Let Love Be” … and that is one way to view this drawing

Back to this drawing, I have this strong concept of a whirlpool. I see this boy drops right into it and this girl looking from the shore. Then I think of the ebb and flow of a love relationship. Perhaps this girl drops the boy into the whirlpool. But she is having a second thought. Maybe, just maybe, this boy is worth saving. This once.

In my mind, I am thinking of the fairy tale, whereby Rapunzel attempts to save her prince with her hair.

On the other hand, you could also view this drawing upside down whereby it is the boy who is saving the girl

Now of course, when viewed upside down, you could also see this boy throwing down a rope attempting to save the girl. Perhaps the girl is drowning, in confusion. Such is the beauty of art. In the end, it is your interpretation that matters.

Back to the National Gallery Singapore, one really cool thing is that visitors can create a poster based on some of the artworks the museum displays. I have spent some time with the gigantic touch screen. The poster I have created has ”¦ erm ”¦ a common theme.

Now, be nice. Don’t judge.

A poster I have created in Singapore National Gallery
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My Hobbies

When Cats Listen to Moonlight Sonata – A Doodle

The last few doodles I drew was rather serious and they were getting complex. Last night, it was a long day at work. Exhausted by the never-ending calls from nine in the morning till evening, exhausted by the endless paperwork from early evening till ten at night (alas, performance review period), all I wanted was to unwind. Perhaps play some video games as our guild members have been beaconing us to start our Diablo 3 season 22 journey but my wife was tired; perhaps watch some TV but I couldn’t think of anything I wanted to indulge into; perhaps drink more wine but I really couldn’t as I started early. So I have decided to doodle. The theme was: something cute.

Titled as When Cats Listen to Moonlight Sonata – first orientation when the pair of cats in the center are upright.

It didn’t take too long to complete the drawing. Two hours. And it was fun, especially the endless musical notes around the cats.

What I was and still am struggling with is the drawing’s orientation and that’s why I haven’t added my name onto the drawing. I would pick the first one if I want to see the cats in the center in the upright position, which is also where the spiral starts.

The second orientation gives perspective on the scoresheet

The second orientation is also good, especially when you want to focus on the partial sheet music inspired by Moonlight Sonata. And I like the pair of cats sitting at the bottom edge of the frame, upright.

The third orientation is perhaps the most balanced

I like the third orientation for the composition gives me a balanced feel. I can still make out of the sheet music. There is a certain ‘weight’ towards the bottom half of the drawing.

My favorite perhaps is the fourth orientation below. It seems most natural. Just that, the musical notes are upside down and it reverses the Moonlight Sonata.

Fourth orientation with a pair of cats sitting at the bottom of the frame.