Nursing Home Journey #1 - The Man who was a Karaoke Champion

#NursingHomeJourney Stories #1 (LONG POST AHEAD!)

I was doing my usual ward-to-ward singing at a nursing home when I noticed a wheelchair-bound uncle observing me silently at a corner. Not wanting to make him feel left out, I smiled and waved at him. 

"Will you be coming to level 6?" 

He asked in a low tone during a brief pause of my performance. 

It turned out that he had heard me and wheeled himself down from 6th floor (OH my goodness!) specially just to ask if I would be going up to his ward to sing. I told him I would and he nodded, turned his back around and slowly wheeled himself off. 

Honestly, it wasn't part of the schedule (to enter level 6 ward) with the nursing home but I decided to fulfil him on my own accord. 

As promised, I made my way up after finishing my round at Level 4.

There he was, awaiting me at the ward with the rest of the other residents.

I greeted everyone and started singing. 

Song after song, Uncle was very supportive. He smiled and never failed to give his best clap. Then there came the moment. The moment that HITS me hard. 

He motioned me to come over and presented me with a small 4R-sized photo album. 

With his weak and trembling hands, he flipped the pages. "This was me", he said in a soft tone. I gasped as I looked at the young, energetic and handsome man staring at me right back in the pictures.

And in almost all of the photos, he was seen holding a microphone and were at all sorts of singing competitions. 

"I used to run around Singapore and joined all the competitions. And I was a champion before!" He shared as he continued flipping the pages slowly. In some of the photos, his family members were even seen supporting him at his competitions. He was such a happy man who had such a beautiful wife, too. 

"Wow, you are really handsome! I bet you have a lot of girls wooing you!" I joked.

"Handsome right? Hahaha..That was last time lah..." He gave a shy smile. 

Even though I only knew him for less than an hour, I felt like the time had stood still and I was walking down his memory lane together with him. We may be generations apart, but we connected. 

I took a short glance at him. It was very difficult to imagine that the man -so FULL of life, hope and dreams in the photos is now beside me in a wheelchair and residing in a nursing home. (While I did wonder about his family members, I did not ask him much as I didn't want to risk triggering any bad memories, if any)

It dawned upon me that my presence had probably brought him some memories of his younger days.

"I would love to hear you sing! How about you sing a song?" I said cheerfully. 

He gave a tiny smile and shook his head. 

"I cannot sing totally in my condition now".

My heart sank. 

He then requested me to sing him a song 午夜的香吻 which I fulfilled.

I looked at the time and my heart sank a second time. It was time for me to go. 

Uncle opened his small cupboard beside his bed and took out a box. "Here, have some cakes". He grabbed 3 packets of the cakes and placed them in my hand. 

I smiled. "Thank you, Uncle"

Despite that he didn't really have much with him, he still wanted to offer me something. To me, these cakes are simply priceless. I held them in my hands and felt a surge of warmth through my heart.

While time may be cruel and leave no man behind, it's inspiring to know how music can still keep one going emotionally. This is why I truly enjoyed doing volunteer work and giving back with music. Each trip to the nursing home always bring me a different experience in an inspiring manner. There are just so many sides of life that I've seen and yet to be seen. 

I will be sharing more of my personal experiences and stories as time goes by. At the same time, I do hope that I can bring a little inspiration to our young generation in coming forward to contribute back to the society. You never know how much your time contribution means to someone. :)

My Volunteering Journey (It's life-changing!)

The activity started as I went to ward after ward, and I sang my usual oldies while trying to engage the patients to clap and sing along. Trust me, I felt like my life was complete at that very instant when some of the patients clapped, gave thumbs up, encouraged and offered me the brightest smiles ever. I was overjoyed that they seemed to be enjoying my presence.

And what truly changed my life was the moment when I was brought to the palliative ward which I was told that the patients might not be able to react to my singing. 

Nonetheless, I was eager to enter the place and pray that music can create miracles for the patients. 

AND OH BOY, SOMEHOW IT DID. Allow me to share a little positive encounter! 

I decided to choose upbeat familiar songs and went to the bedside of a patient. His eyes were open, but he did not really seem responsive when I attempted to interact. Somehow, I knew he could hear me. 

"Tian mi mi... " I started the first verse of a song which I personally love. His lips seemed to be moving in a subtle manner, but obvious enough to make me stop in my tracks. Was I seeing things? I thought it was just my imagination but it was not soon after that I heard a weak, soft but audible voice coming from his direction. 

I could not believe my ears. When I got to the second verse of the song, he was already singing on tune with me (even with the right lyrics!!) I could tell he must have been a very good singer in his younger days. 

I got so emotional and tried hard to control my tears of joy so that I could finish the song with him. When it ended, I looked towards the direction of another volunteer, and walked over to her. 

"Oh my God. He sang. He SANG with me! Let's go on with the next song, I'm going to sing more for him!" I exclaimed in a shaky voice. 

I went back to his bed side. "Uncle, have you heard of this song called "路边的野花不要踩"? Slowly, he started nodding his head. My heart skipped a beat. "I shall sing this song for you okay?" 

And this time, he completed the whole song with me. Yes, his voice was weak but I could hear him clearly. I was overwhelmed. It was not soon after that he could respond to me by nodding his head gently to most of my questions. "You sang really good, Uncle!" I said. 

A tiny smile formed on his lips. 

I couldn't ask for more in this life.

The moment was phenomenal and surreal. You know the feeling when everything felt like a dream but you are actually living the dream? I could feel tears welling up in my eyes even when I am thinking back of the priceless moment. 

Today's experience made me feel so complete and accomplished as a performer - Accomplished in the sense that I am able to light up that little smile on the patients' faces which I never knew I could. Music is wonderful. 

It totally took my perspective of life to another level after today and I would definitely love to do it again and again and again and again, just to shine that little bit of positivity onto the patients' life. 

Creating miracles through music is something I've always dreamed to do, and I am very honored to be given the opportunity to take that step. My heartfelt thanks to Shaane and his team from St Luke's Hospital (You guys are awesome beyond words!) , and of course not forgetting my dearest friend cum sister, Chloe, for coming along today and supporting the cause. I am very thankful. 感恩。

P/S: I will be preparing more oldies next round and aim to learn songs in different languages to cater to the non-chinese too! I promised a patient that I will prepare her song dedication the next round and I've never felt so motivated in learning it!

New cover released!

I just released a new cover last week! - 告白气球


In all honesty, I did not expect myself to be covering this song (I am not a Jay Chou fan and have never sung a Jay Chou song in my whole life)

Somehow, this song was stuck in my head and people everywhere were humming to it.

So here it is - My version of it. Pardon the imperfection as this was just a casual recording.

I am currently working on more covers! I'll be updating soon on my blog.

Looking back at my life... ...

Hello world!

I can't believe it has been SO LONG since I left my blog with cob webs piling all over - and to my friends who have been asking why my blog hasn't been updated... I appreciate that you guys are still following me. Yes, I hear you.

Life has been crazy lately - From happy moments to depressed ones, I would say it has been a rollercoaster. Apart from that, I have achieved certain "milestones" last year that I will be mentioning in this post!

1. I FINALLY DYED MY HAIR FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN MY LIFE. 

Ok, I admit - I was not daring enough to get a bolder shade of maroon colour as I was supposed to have a filming assignment coming up in that following week. It was a very mild colour (obvious only under strong sunlight) but that would do for a first time. I still remembered how strongly I was against the dying of my hair in the past but eventually gave in to temptation. 

AND I DYED AGAIN DURING MY Hong Kong TRIP (Just weeks ago)

AND I DON'T KNOW WHY I KEPT OPENING MY MOUTH WHEN I TOOK BOTH PHOTOS ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS *rolls eyes*

Pictured here on the left is my Polytechnic friend whom is still one of my best buddies (Thanks for going on a trip with me, babe!) and both of us stumbled upon a salon in Hong Kong that provided decent quality service. We went for purple /magenta shade of colour for our hair and I was really pleased with the results! I don't really fancy strong colours so bleaching is a no-go for me.

2. I WENT CRAZY during my company event and dressed up as an unimaginable character

Yes.. You guessed it. Harley Quinn.

I love her exaggerated style of outfit in the movie and little did I know that I would eventually be sponsored and dressed up as her for my company event. I was really afraid that it would turn out bad because I was my own make-up artist and I do not have much experiences in such exaggerated make-up. Many of my friends always have the impression that I am a cosplayer (I don't know why!) but I am not. NOT. NOT. So please - I hope you professional cosplayers out there won't laugh at a poor human like me who only dresses up once in a blue moon.

The photo that officially scared the hell out of many people:

3. GRADUATED from Hark Music

Yay! I guess learning anything that is related to music is something that I will never think of quitting. Don't get me wrong, I am just someone who is a hobbyist of singing - and I'll never expect myself to be a professional but I do feel proud of myself for coming this far for my hobby!

My own little "mini studio": -

4. Had my first ever debut performance

(Photo credits to Hangi Tavakoli from Flipside Productions)

Even till now, I can't believe that I stood up there and performed. It wasn't a totally positive experience (to be honest) for me as I happened to fall sick during that period of time and couldn't recover fast enough. With a choked-up throat and strained vocal chords, I tried to give it my best shot . But what left the deepest impression on me was the support I had from my family, friends and colleagues who came down to sit through my performance!

I was shocked and touched beyond words when I saw the turnout. Some of them actually stay a long distance away from my performance venue but they made time to come down. 

THANK YOU SO MUCH, MY LOVELY PEOPLE. I LOVE YOU ALL. 

4. GRADUATED from Acting/Drama lessons in Level 1 @ Zoom Academy

Although I have been involved in a little bit of acting here and there during my 'younger' days, I have always wanted to take up professional lessons and understand more about the trade.

The 'typical' Ah Lian you see on the road:

I am currently into my Level 2 acting now, and am blessed to have the opportunity to be taught by one of the veteran actresses in the TV industry, Chen Bi Feng. (I believe the older generation can recognise her from the many TV shows that she acted in!)

5. Became a blog-writer for Mitsueki Blog

When I was approached with the opportunity to join Mitsueki's team of blogwriters, I was honoured. (If you are reading this... Thanks, babe!)

Writing for her blog has given me tons of opportunities to attend media events and food tastings as well. (I have to admit that I gained weight after becoming sort of a food blogger... Which is not exactly a bad thing considering the fact that I don't usually gain weight)

One of my first-ever overseas media trip to Genting - with courtesy of Mitsueki.

6. Went on a radio interview by JIA 88.3 FM

It was a very last minute interview (I was contacted and interviewed on the same day) It was my first-ever experience on a radio show and thanks to my family and friends for being so supportive! 

7. First JB Trip with my colleague buddies

Nothing beats having colleagues who become your buddies.

It has always been a thing - To go on a half-day JB trip for some games and good food. Thanks for having me- It is always fun being with those quirky people.

8. Brought my mum back to hometown

Although I have been to KL countless times with my family, but this was the first time I took charge and brought my mum to her hometown. A big thank-you to our dear relatives in Malaysia who took time to drive us around and even treated us to great food. Both my mum and I were thankful.

9. Took up new hobby 

This is an addictive hobby that I took up after being inspired by so many designs online. The materials were sourced from Taobao and I wouldn't say they are exactly cheap. BUT ENOUGH TO KEEP ME OCCUPIED FOR THAT FEW HOURS YET FEELING ACHIEVED AT THE END OF THE DAY.

I really wish I have more time to do more of them now.

10. DID MY FIRST EYELASH EXTENSIONS

I have always contemplated to do eyelash extensions as I am a VERY lazy person. So much that I was afraid that it would be difficult to maintain. However, thanks to a sponsorship opportunity through Mitsueki, I decided to give a try and understand more about the procedure personally from the service provider. 

And there is no turning back. I loved the extensions and now I can't imagine life without it! If you would like to read about my experience, do stay tuned to Mitsueki Blog as the entry will be featured on there!

11. Chemical Peeling treatment with Dr Tyng Tan

I have been undergoing chemical treatment for my acne issues for 2 years now and I am always looking forward to the sessions. They work in clearing up acne and lightening acne scars, but maintenance is still needed to be done to ensure that there will be no breakouts. If you would like to know more about the procedures and my chemical peeling experiences, do feel free to click HERE.

12. Knowing a wonderful person who came into my life

 I think everyone probably knows who he is by now and to those who don't & still keep asking me who the heck is this frequently-mentioned name on my social media accounts, he is my lovely FISH.

He has got to be the most patient, nicest and talented people I've ever known. I know I am someone who isn't the easiest to get along with due to my temper, but he has NEVER ONCE thrown temper at me and still treats me like a princess. Most importantly, he respects me for who I am.

Thank you, Fish, for sticking by me always!!!!

13. I got famous

So famous that I spotted people printing my face and using them as wrapping papers which were eventually thrown to the rubbish chute. Thanks, huh.

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 I hope everyone enjoys reading this little update of my life that I did not get to blog much on here. 

Life hasn't been a bed of roses, but I shall exclude the negativity yeah.

I will be back to more active blogging soon and revive my title as the SGCOMPLAINQUEEN. (I AM NOT DEAD YET!)

*roars*

Have a lovely week ahead, people!

Outfit of the Day by ShopMyIceCreamBus

Guess where the Queen is heading to today?

Yes - To CitySquare Mall for the SAFRA PK Challenge 2012 !!!

 (Thanks to Miao, Wen, Nixeux and Kelvin for coming all the way down to meet me too!)

With thanks to  SHOPMYICECREAMBUS   for the kind sponsor in my today's outfit!

It's named "Pencil Illusion Dress" - and I love it to bits!

It's an interesting dress as it's somehow playing with optical illusion - and makes you look even slimmer than you already are. 

Shiok, right??

I own alot of outfits that actually make me look fat at the waist area, but this one is the opposite. :)

I donned on a Fedora to go along with it, and Miao was commenting on how different I looked today.

Attempting to act cute but it ALWAYS doesn't work... But for the sake of showcasing my favorite dress of the day, here I go!!!!

With Miao:

Remember the "Kate Winslet" style?

Hers is a similar style too - an illusion dress!

Do you like it already and want one too???

If yes,

Please visit SHOPMYICECREAMBUS or "LIKE" their Facebook page now!

http://www.facebook.com/shopmyicecreambus

It's definitely your choice to fulfill your shopping desires as they are constantly importing new items - ranging from apparels, shoes and even bags - each with their own unique style that you can't find elsewhere.

SHOPMYICECREAMBUS has Giveaways as well that you can try your luck on and you can get the opportunity to win stuff of your choice!

How cool is that??!

Join their page to be updated of new collections coming your way - You will be glad you did!

===================================

Regarding SAFRA PK CHALLENGE:

Firstly, my sincerest apologies to my readers out there who went down for the SAFRA PK CHALLENGE and couldn't redeem the mystery gift as promised.

(Yes, I received complaints today and one of my friends cum reader actually scolded me of "scamming" them!)

#*($&*(#($#$

I was not sure why it happened, but the staff at the registration counter said that the free mystery gift redemption only begins NEXT WEEK when I was told by the management earlier that it would be on 8th September 2012!

I was completely appalled as it was too late to make amendments.

When I showed my e-mails to the staff, they were like "Oh shucks. I think they made a mistake."

Speaking of professionalism!!!

How are my readers going to trust me anymore?!?!?!

I'm sorry to any of you who've came down today.. I would still like to thank you for your support nonetheless.

To make ourselves feel better since we were already there, I brought my dearies to Saizeriya - an Italian restaurant that is located at B2 of the mall.

Look at the menu spread!

It was my 2nd time patronizing the place and it didn't disappoint! 

What I LOVE most about the restaurant is its attractive prices and superb quality food that will never fail to leave you craving for more.

(A plate of spaghetti costs as low as only $3.90!)

And they DO NOT charge you for any service taxes/charges at all.

On top of that, you only add $2.80 for unlimited FREE FLOW of any drink of your choice!

Well, pictures always speak a thousand words... So here I go!

The grilled chicken that Kelvin ordered:

Miao's "Mee Soto" - in Italian style!

This is so #(*$)(#$ DELICIOUS that I just couldn't resist sticking my spoon onto her plate to steal few mouthfuls!

Look at how happy she is:

And that's my Chicken bolognese baked macaroni! 

It's so effin' cheesy and just the right amount!!

I truly enjoyed every bite!

Wen's baked rice.

Not bad, although she commented it was too cheesy for her x_x

That's nixeux's grilled fish.I am sure it tastes as good as it looks!

Taking a random shot in between bites. NICE ANGLE RIGHT??! Hahaha!

After we were done with our meals, we headed for the next activity we girls are BEST at:

What else other than camwhoring??!! 

LOL.

That's us. The "4' musketeers.

Me and my "attempt-to-look-sexy-but-failed" expression. LOL.

CAMWHORE SESSION IN TOILET #likeaboss!!
(Thanks to Wen for the photo as this was taken using her camera.)




I see an Ang Moh in the background. *spins*




When we headed out of the toilet, I saw "fishes" on the wall and began my craziness:

Headed to IKEA afterwards and had my favorite MEATBALLS.

Honestly, I didn't used to consume BEEF or anything that has to do with it... But this plate of meatballs here is my life-long exception! 

AND IT'S NOT CHEAP, YOU KNOW!

That's wen's tasty chicken set.

I've never tasted it before and didn't have the chance to as I was already full by the time I finished my meatballs. 

(I'm so freaking contented ever since I bought the new camera. I can finally capture nice and un-blurry photos for you people!)

 

Kelvin's Salmon set:

Chocolate ice-cream, I guess?

Shopping at IKEA has always been a fun experience. I just love strolling the different sections.

Look at those lights that they have in store!

I would love to have them if I have a house of my own. *dreams*

 Look at that! This is part of the store, not a real room!

But I felt so totally at home. Muwahaha~

How about accepting my love from me to you?

Our "30-year" photo: *inside joke* LOL.

I was camwhoring and suddenly Wen smacked her hand right in front of my face.. and the shot turned out like this  =_= :

 Meh.

Wen was placing this heart thingy at my back.

Sorry that I've been flooding this entry mainly with my face! LOL.

I realized that my blogging lifestyle is back again - I'm becoming more active now!!! :)

Thanks for supporting me if you happen to be one of my "silent" readers. I'll keep the fire burning!!