Doing Something Different

I did something last Saturday. Something good enough to change the tone of how I approach the rest of the year. Here’s the 2007 changing moment.

Waking up early, way too early, on Saturday, my wife and I practically dragged ourselves off the bed, after the previous night of intensive WoW gaming. At 9.30am we were in a cab cruising along the rather quiet streets to Picturehouse at Cathay. Can’t remember when was my last visit to the venerable old dame along Orchard Road, but it is definitely in a bygone era before the facade change and new coat of paint.

So what’s so important that both of us just had to haul of leaden, or more correctly, mine, to Picturehouse at such ungodly hours. Well, to get my hands on the expansion to WoW – The Burning Crusades!!! Nah, just kidding.

I was at the Picturehouse to catch 2 films by Atom Egoyan. The films were brought in by the Singapore Film Society (SFS), of which I am now a proud member of it. That said, the life changing moment is none other than the fact that I signed up as a member of SFS. Life changing? Well, I see this ‘event’ as such since this is something which I would never comtemplate a year back, not to mention the years I am alive.

My decision to take up the membership was not an easy one. The fact that I am not sure if I am into film appreciation is the greatest stumbling block. And that I have to pay around $60 for a half-year membership is another, since I can’t be sure if I will be attending the other screenings by SFS in the coming months.

After agonising about it between the trip from Picturehouse and Plaza Singapura, as I had to obtain money from a ATM, which Cathay has none, I realised that it was a good feeling to try out something new. But the shock of parting with 60 bucks in the morning, without any prior inkling of it, soured my mood somewhat. Gotta thank my patient and loving wife for putting up with the cranky me while I made up my mind.

The films on show last Saturday were Family View and The Sweet Hereafter. Being an amatuer in film critque, I shall not venture any synopsis lest I get it all wrong. But share I will on my personal views. The one thing which struck me in both the films was the way Egoyan protrayed daulity of families and society. The side which the public sees, and the not so pretty side where only insiders are privvy to. Basically, things are not what they appear to be.

After the films, there was a discussion session where the SFS organiser explained why some scenes were as such and why the musical element to the film were so strong – Egoyan studied music while in school. These little snippets are things which I will never go out of the way to find out after watching a Hollywood blockbuster. And I suspect these are the little things which will drag my leaden feet to the next SFS screening.

A New Year. A New Start.

I kick off each year with a list to resolutions, and this year will not be any different. While my records make for dismal reading, it has not stopped me to taking up the pen and putting down the stuff which I hope to achieve this year. As the saying goes “hope springs eternal”.

And here’s my resolutions for the year of 2007:

1. To learn something new.
2. Become healthier – lose some flab and healthier diet.
3. Spend more time with family and friends.
4. Go on holiday with my wife.
5. Rekindle my spiritual life.
6. Brush up my photography skills.
7. Learn to cook at least 10 new dishes.
8. Plant sunflowers.
9. Redecorate my home.
10. Finish reading 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

Wish me luck everyone!

Here’s wishing everyone a Happy New Year!!!