IT AIN'T MUCH I'M ASKING .... Happy New Year

 

It ain't much I'm asking, I heard him say
Gotta find me a future move out of my way ...

I want it all ... and I want it now!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL

FACE IT ALONE ... when the moon has lost its glow

 Queen's new single ... who would have guessed.

This is from one of their unreleased tracks for their The Miracle album back in 1988. It was originally recorded for the album but did not make the final album cut. 

The song has a dramatic beginning with Roger's base drum, followed by a melancholy guitar solo, and Freddie's voice... so hauntingly beautiful and full of emotions.

It's beautiful and so so sad, it hits you straight in the gut.

Have a listen.

After all these years, it's so good to hear all four of them playing together. I miss Queen.

HAPPY NEW YEAR .... this is the only life for me ....

 Happy New Year all.

Stay safe. Stay strong. Believe in yourself and keep passing the open windows.

video from youtube

THE MONSOON ARRIVES ... too much of a good thing

 Salam and good day I wish you on this cold and wet morning.

The monsoon is here... as expected. Cold, wet, windy ... the whole bloody lot. Mother nature is always reliable. It's pouring cats and dogs this morning. well, actually, it's been pouring since yesterday, and has gotten even worse today. Cats and dogs yesterday, cows and pigs today... LOL 

As usual, I have tons of assessments to mark, but I just could not get myself to look at them yet. Instead, I went out, looked at the rain, shot a video and updated my blog. It's either that or watching Queen music videos. Well, f it makes you happy luv, do it. Anyway, I feel so much better now. I'm actually feeling quite motivated to work. 

The last I heard, several areas have flooded and some roads are closed. Don't know how long this will last. I hope the best for all the flood victims and I also hope my flowers in my small yard will not die from too much rain. You know what they say... too much of a good thing ... 

Queen - Too Much Love Will Kill You

THE BOOK OF LIFE ... chapter 55

 Salam and good day. 

55 today. Thank you Allah.

What can I say. It's been a long weary year. Covid is still lingering in the air and things are only halfway back to normal. Not sure whether we will be able to get back to pre-covid normal. A lot of people are taking the current situation as the new normal. 

Well, new or old, I can't wait to retire... on this day next year, I will be free... for now... let's hope for a miracle...

photo from Pinterest

Queen - The Miracle

 courtesy of youtube

IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS ... there is peace and serenity

 Salam and good day,

Here I am again, ready to begin another semester. Seems like just yesterday I finished teaching the third semester. 

This semester, instead of online teaching, (which I have sort of gotten used to by now), the university wants us to do hybrid lesson. Hybrid, meaning, a combination of online and face to face lesson., ie: 50% of each. Sounds simple enough. Well, it is anything but simple. 

The 50% face to face and online only applies to students' learning time, 

For the lecturers, its actually 100% face to face, but in the face to face class, only 50% of the students will be physically present and the remaining will have it as an online lesson. That's one scenario. I know. It's complicated.

Anyway, the hybrid lesson consists of six different scenarios based to the actual number of students who are physically on campus and those who are not. Therefore, if I have six sections to teach, and unluckily, have six different scenarios, well... chaos would be an understatement. I'm literally heading into a storm. 

The bright side is this coming semester would be my second last before I'm off to my retirement. Sooo looking forward to it. I'm  just too old for this mode of teaching.

Speaking of storm, it's October now, and we can expect a visit from our dear friend, the North East monsoon in a few weeks. Yes, Mr Monsoon will come with abundance of rain, leaving a trail of destruction in its path. That gives me an idea for a November poem. Hopefully, I will have the time to think about it, you know, with all the chaos.

But, for now, I need something soothing... here it is...

Despite, the title, My Melancholy Blues, This song is not at all depressing. It is the most peaceful and serene song ever.

related post : death-on-two-legs-dedicated-to.

MADE IN HEAVEN ..... only Queen fans ....

 

Only Queen fans would know this date : 5th September. 

TEO TORRIATTE ... Let us cling together ... Tokyo 2021

 Salam and good day,

Oh yes. As a Queen fan, I am very proud and moved that they played Queen's Teo Torriatte at the Tokyo Olympics 2021 opening ceremony. 

If you don't know that song, then you might have missed their album 'A Day At The Races' It's a beautiful song, written by Brian May for their Japanese fans

It's no secret that the Japanese love Queen, and this just proves it. They still love queen, just as much as I do.

Sadly, I could not put the video of the opening ceremony here because for some reason, it was blocked. However, I did find a snippet of it in twitter ... here

Hear my song, still think of me the way you've come to think of me.....

Miss you Mr Mercury

50 YEARS OF QUEEN ... update 4 minit

 

CORONAVIRUS RHAPSODY ... stress buster

 Here we are , bracing the third wave of Coronavirus. still WFH. 

Anyway, I found this while browsing for Queen videos, and I just have to post it. Lyrics by comedian Dana Jay Bein, performed by Adrian Grimes, music by Queen obviously. Just a bit of fun to see us through these gloomy times. Enjoy.

ONE VISION - happy new year

Here's one for the new year.

One Vision - Queen

 

Have a great year y'all.

IN THE LAP OF THE GODS REVISITED ... only Queen fans...

 Only Queen fans would know this date.

In the lap of the gods revisited

RIP Mr Mercury

UNDER PRESSURE ... update 4 minit

I am ...

 

BOUDICA ... the warrior queen

 Salam and good day,

I came across Queen Boudica while watching Expedition Unknown, S6 ep16. This programme is hosted by Joshua Gates, an archeologist, explorer and adventurer, like a 21st century Indiana Jones, minus the , err... arse kicking.He travels around the world, trying to solve ancient mysteries, digging tombs, looking for buried treasure etc. Like I said... Indiana Jones.

In this episode, he was trying to locate the last battleground of Queen Boudica which was also believed to be her burial site. As was the custom then, this would be where her people would have given offerings of silver and gold to honour their leader. 

In London, he visited the monument of Boudica which is situated next to the House of Parliament, on the embankment of the Thames. The monument is a bronze statue of Queen Boudica in her chariot, with her two daughters, designed byThomas Thorneycroft in 1902.

Josh Gates mentioned that, he has been to London countless times and have stood on that very spot more than a few times, but he has never noticed the monument until that day. Yes, now that he mentioned it, I have also stood on that very spot more than 30 years ago, and I also did not notice the monument. Apparently, not many people know who the monument is for because not many know about Queen Boudica. So, who is she, and why have I not heard of her before while studying about the British history?

the monument of Queen Boudica

First, lets find out who she is. We go back to the time of the Roman conquest in AD43.  Queen Boudica was married to King Prasutagus who ruled the Iceni tribe of East Anglia, which was the wealthiest and most powerful of the Celtic tribes. They had two daughters.

When Rome arrived in Britain, the Iceni made a treaty with the Romans, allowing individual kings or rulers to stay in power, keeping their tribal lands and their way of lives. They, however, would be ruling on behalf of Rome.

When King Prasutagus died in AD 60/61, he left half of his estate to emperor Nero for Rome and the other half for his daughters. This did not go well with the Romans as they expect everything to be handed back to them once the king is dead. 

So, the Romans raided and destroyed the place. Boudica was publicly flogged and her daughters were taken out and raped by the Romans. Big mistake Romans!!!!!!

Pissed off and hungry for revenge, Boudica rose and led the Icenic army against the Romans. She torched Roman cities and was described by Roman historians as a merciless foe, responsible for barbaric acts of torture.. Seen as one of the most fearsome warrior and history's fiercest woman, the warrior Queen fought the might of Rome and got her revenge. 

Most of the stories about Boudica came from Roman historians because at that time, ancient Britain did not have a written language, hence, the lack of record. So, what we get is Boudica from the Romans point of view. Of course, they saw her as merciless and barbaric. I don't think the Romans can handle women with power... LOL

Even though she was not English, (she was Celt, the Anglo Saxons did not arrive in Britain until much later in history. That, plus living in a land without writing, was probably why I did not come across her when learning about British history.) she is today, considered as a British folk hero and a righteous freedom fighter. 

Boudica - mother, wife, killer or Boudica - mother, leader, freedom fighter. Depending on which side of the Roman empire you stood. 

I choose both - Boudica - mother, wife, killer, leader, freedom fighter. I'm a sucker for badass warrior queens, and Queen Boudica is definitely one. Lady, you rock!

It might not be very relevant, but, reading about Boudica reminds me of this song. 

March of the Black Queen - Queen

REFERENCES:

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Boudica/

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhel4QnA46xPBavfoa8EVS41CrnCj6Yqde71yWzOdRmdfFXgl8BydAjhw5T5lPkTPXAeQa9DwyZZmokPEilVCkUx5-xTTPiUdRqAAnyHiuJDxdzJtNownvJZgU3mJyx74Czy1OF_ftyOo8v/s1600/boudica.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8usNj4x9NA

Discovery Channel ; Expedition Unknown, S6 ep16

NO ONE BUT YOU...the patung says

WHY DO I STILL CRY WHEN I WATCH THIS VIDEO?

Queen - No One But You

WE ADAPT, WE COMPROMISE ... covid19, online teaching

salam and good day,

It's a beautiful day. A day for spending at the beach or a park or taking my grandchildren to the swimming pool, before covid19 that is. 

Right now, its best to follow the government's order and stay at home. To quote Clint Eastwood in Heartbreak Ridge: 'we adapt, we compromise'. Right on mr Eastwood. 

Speaking of adapting and compromising, how do you feel about online teaching?

Me? I'm so not into online teaching. Maybe it's because i was born in the 60s and grew up in the 70s and 80s, way before the age of IT, or, may be i'm just old fashion. 

Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against technology or online teaching for that matter. Technology is great, just not my cup of tea. It is certainly useful, and some people might be really good at online teaching. It's a matter of personal preference, I guess. 

i remember a scene from the Bohemian Rhapsody biopic where they went to a farm to record their album 'A night at the opera'. At one point, after Brian did his solo part for BoRap, he asked what Freddie thought of it, and Freddie said, 'almost perfect'. 

Brian: Almost perfect?
Freddie: Now play it like you actually wrote it.
Brian: i did. I wrote that part.
Freddie: put your body into it. 

And he went on to say, put your heart into it. 

That is exactly how i feel about online teaching. Making a video of my lecture or lesson is not a big problem, but putting my heart into the video is not easy. Some might say, just post the video. After that, it's all up to the students. Who cares whether the understand it or not. Well, I care.

Anyway, there was a forum (online, of course) with my vice chansellor this morning,  on the new norm for us in UMP. Nèedless to say, online teaching and learning is going to become a normal thing, post MCO.

So, there is no escape for me. Heart or no heart, I'll have to get used to it. All I can do is to give it my best... find ways to put some rock n roll into my online teaching materials...LOL

Just like with the movement control order, we adapt, we compromise, the same goes for online teaching. In the meantime, i will do some gardening, helps me think.

Salam Ramadhan to all muslims. 

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY ... ini bukan review

Salam and good day.

Been a while, but here I am again. Two weeks ago, I finally got to watch 'Bohemian Rhapsody', two years after it was released. Sad, but it's been ages since I've set foot in a cinema. Thanks to Astro, I finally got to see it. 

I recorded the movie and I watched it over and over, and it breaks my heart every time. All their songs came back to me one by one, songs that I grew up with. Memories of my late brother, who introduced me to Queen when I was 10 or 11, singing along to 'another one bites the dust', 'Fat Bottomed Girls' and 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. My brother was a big fan of 70s and 80s rock, and, needless to say,so am I, and I am still Queen's number 1 fan.

 Memories of my days studying in the UK in the 80s, scrambling to the common room to watch 'Top of the Pops', going into record shops to buy their 'A kind of Magic' album and watching 'The Highlanders' a few times because of Queen, and also because of Christopher Lambert, in that order. The movie brought them all back to me.

I love the movie, mainly because I love Queen and I adore Freddie Mercury. Rami Malek, did a great job of playing Freddie. The movie doesn't have any hi-tech special effects or any great fighting scenes in it. It's just a simple story, with great acting and awesome music. What else do you need? 

I was in England in 1985, so, I know about the live aid concert, and I can relate to the excitement of that time.I breaks my heart, every time I get to the 'live aid concert' scene at the end, seeing them perform the best live rock concert ever, knowing, six years after that, Freddy Mercury would die. 

I guess I'm still mourning for the loss of someone so beautiful and so talented. 

RIP. Love you always, Freddie Mercury..

here is the video of what is still known as the best live rock concert ever, from youtube.

THE BOOK OF LIFE ... chapter 51

Salam and good day

enough said.

The show must go on, right?

GERIMIS DATANG LAGI

Gerimis datang lagi
Merimbunkan rindu
Larat terhembus angin lalu
Menghimpun kasih ditengah hembusan bayu
Biarlah gerimis pergi
Bersama jeritan padu
Bukan dengan tangisan lesu
Sayup dibawa hembusan angin sendu

NOT SUPERMOON

Salam and good day,
I don't know if you still remember this post... starry night which I wrote last year. In that post, I mentioned that it was the second most wonderful thing I have ever seen. I also said I would write about the most wonderful thing I have ever seen, soon. Well... not so soon apparently, but here it is... the most wonderful thing I have ever seen.
I'm writing this in the wake of the Super Moon phenomenon last week, not because I could not see a thing on account of the sky being totally overcast that particular night...but because it involves the same celestial body orbiting the earth.

Blood Moon. Image from Google

It was quite a few years back, I don't remember exactly what year it was, but it was way before cell phones have cameras... hence, no photos.  It was actually the year when there was a full Lunar Eclipse. I remember watching the eclipse from the balcony at my mother's house. To say it was mind blowing would be an understatement. It was more than mind blowing ... it was breathtaking...
to see the moon devoid of any light... was beyond my imagination. The moon was no longer just a flat bright surface...I could actually see the spherical shape of moon, which we don't normally see when it is brightly lit. The colour was a mixture of orange and red or brown and it was the size of a basketball. Actually, it was exactly like looking at a basketball suspended in the sky... spinning... Yes... i could see the orange moon spinning in the sky... truly majestic, imagine a basketball floating and spinning in the sky... magical and humbling.
I vaguely heard my mom saying ... bulan sedang sakit, and the old nyonya next door telling us,,, itu naga sudah telan bulan... not very scientific, but then scientists also call it Blood Moon... not very scientific either.
Well, scientific or not, it will always remain as the most amazing thing I have ever seen.