International Premier Tennis League - 18 to 20 December 2015, Singapore Indoor Stadium

I wasn't planning on posting another entry until 2016, but my weekend was so amazing, I couldn't let it pass without writing something!

Not many people are aware that I used to play tennis. My mum arranged lessons for both of us when I was a teenager and we played regularly for a number of years before I started university and didn't have the time or energy.

But I continued to watch matches on TV, even catching Michael Chang and Stefan Edberg at the Indoor Stadium about 20 years ago.

When the IPTL began in 2014, I gave it a miss because the lineup wasn't appealing.

This year, when Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal were included, I still resisted.

But when Roger Federer was confirmed, I bought tickets that very day.

I'm not a sports stats type of person, so I don't keep track of scores and such. But I've been a fan of RF's for more than 5 years. My most vivid memory is from 2010 - I was sitting in my hotel room in Paris, watching the U.S. Open semi-finals live on my laptop ( believe it or not, the TV in the room didn't have the sports channel! ). It was RF vs Djokovic, and the latter eventually won. But I remember being awed by RF's skills on the court, not to mention the charisma he effortlessly exuded and how graciously he handled the loss. A truly unforgettable moment.

Since then, I've followed his career intermittently. I didn't subscribe to cable sports channels so the Internet was very helpful. And I always wondered if I would ever get the chance to see him play for real one day.

2015's been an extraordinary year for me, with many completely unexpected events and bucket list items being checked.

Roger Federer was on my bucket list. And let me tell you, the first time I saw him walk onto the court on day 1 of the Singapore leg of the IPTL tour, for a warm up session during the halfway mark break, my adrenaline level shot through the roof! I was standing at the top of the tiered section eating a slice of pizza - away from my seat and nowhere near the court - and still felt the entire stadium's atmosphere change in that split second. RF emerged unannounced but everyone instantly recognized him, and the roar of excitement that echoed through the vast arena is something I will never forget.

The rest of that evening was surreal. Mum and I returned to our seats, which were located just behind the courtside boxes, and were treated to a spectacular display of aces, smashes, drop shots and slices. RF played 3 sets - mixed then men's doubles, ending with a super-exciting men's singles with world no. 4 and fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka - and the huge crowd lapped it all up.

It all added up to approximately 80 minutes of court time. And I deeply appreciate RF's generosity! He could've easily refused to play more than 1 or 2 sets, but ended up playing 3 consecutively. And we all love him for it!

I've also become a fan of SW's, after watching him play RF on day 1, followed by 1 set on day 2 and 2 more during the finals. He currently outranks Nadal ( no. 5 ) and famously defeated Djokovic at the recent French Open ( woohoo! ). He's an excellent player, though not in the same league as RF. But I know he clawed his way up the ranks and peaked relatively late in his career ( he's already 30 years old ), so I hope he continues to do well for the next few years.

Other IPTL highlights include faves from my younger years, like Goran Ivanisevic and Marat Safin. Carlos Moya, a former world no. 1 who's now retired, also dazzled in his singles matches. And has anyone noticed he and RF look very similar, down to the wavy dark hair and penchant for bandanas? Just look at these photos and tell me I'm not imagining things.

I realize there're those who sniff at the IPTL's format - strict time limits, power points, single set matches - which can understandably affect the quality of the performances ( definitely more serving faults ). But there was an abundance of phenomenal shots and never a dull moment. I paid a large sum for my seats and it was absolutely worth every cent.

Now, I'm so inspired I've finally started subscribing to sports channels, in preparation for RF's packed schedule in the coming year. I'm too old to take up playing tennis again, but hey, you never know.

Good luck, Roger and Stan! And here's crossing our fingers that both will be back for the 2016 IPTL, together with Djokovic and Nadal! I may purchase courtside seats if THAT happens. :)

Review - Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Now that the dust has settled ( and I finally have time after a super eventful weekend ), I need to get this off my chest!

I'm not going to tiptoe around those who haven't seen it yet, so...



SPOILERS BEWARE

SPOILERS BEWARE

SPOILERS BEWARE

SPOILERS BEWARE

SPOILERS BEWARE



Let me be clear about one thing: I was 100% prepared to love the film.

I love the Star Wars franchise ( not every single movie, but on the whole ), and couldn't be happier when J.J. Abrams was chosen to direct episode 7. Add to that the exciting cast and the promise of a new adventure and I was on cloud nine.

There've been mixed feelings from moviegoers all over the world, including friends I spoke to here. Thankfully, I'm not alone in my complaints! Not sure if I can remember all of them at this point, but here goes:


1) It's a major rehash.

A friend called this an homage, but I think they went too far. I can understand the need to be respectful of what came before, the urge to please SW fans, etc. But let's compare this to the other monster blockbuster of 2015, Jurassic World.

JW was also a rehash, but only to a certain extent. And you can't expect that many changes to a story that takes place in an enclosed area containing prehistoric creatures.

SW, on the other hand, spans galaxies. There're millions of characters out there, with countless stories to tell in an infinite number of ways. I don't feel guilty for expecting a lot more.


2) Too many holes in the plot.

a) How does Rey, a scavenger who lives in the desert, know how to pilot different types of air- and spacecraft?

b) Where did that map leading to Luke Skywalker's location come from? Why does have a piece missing?

c) How did Poe Dameron disappear in the desert after the TIE fighter crashed? How did he return to the rebellion, which is on ANOTHER PLANET?!

d) When Finn tells the rebellion which section of the First Order's Starkiller Base to attack, he has no idea if he's right ( he only uses it as an excuse to get to the base to rescue Rey ) - but it ends up working. What kind of a dumb fluke is that?! Isn't Finn being terribly irresponsible, putting the rebellion force's valuable pilots at risk?


3) Other annoying stuff.

a) The villain, Kylo Ren, is completely miscast. Never mind the fact that he dresses like Darth Vader - he doesn't even need that OTT suit for any specific reason. At least in Vader's case, it was necessary to sustain life. Ren just wears it for kicks.

b) When Ren removed his helmet the first time and I saw Adam Driver's obnoxious face, I felt like punching his lights out. Yes, it's good for moviegoers to hate the villain, but there should be fear and dread attached to that hatred. Driver just gives off a petty adolescent vibe. Exactly like Hayden Christensen in episodes 2 and 3. Are all Siths supposed to be like this?

c) And why does Ren HAVE to be another Skywalker? It's like some warped variety of nepotism.

d) How do Rey and Finn instinctively know how to wield a lightsabre? I thought years of training are required? And Finn isn't even a Jedi...!


There were only 2 things I loved in this film: BB-8 and Poe Dameron / Oscar Isaac.

Huge credit goes to the designers of this adorable little robot, which outshines R2-D2 and C3PO by light years. Everything about it - the rounded shape, the colour, the way it rolls, the cute little touches like lasers and what resembles a tiny cigarette lighter doing a thumbs-up sign - is genius.

But my absolute favourite is Isaac, whose heroic Dameron makes me swoon.

And that first scene, where Poe is dressed like an adventurer, retrieving the missing piece of the Luke Skywalker map - I SWEAR it's the perfect audition for the next Indiana Jones sequel.

Pay attention, Hollywood! It's either Isaac or Chris Pratt as Indy ( or Indy's mentee / successor ), but Isaac's much better. :)


Star Wars episode 8 has already started filming but of course, the plot is highly classified.

Anyway, there're loads of spectacular movies coming up next year, including Suicide Squad, Batman vs Superman and Captain America: Civil War. But the one I'm REALLY excited about is Independence Day: Resurgence. It looks freaking awesome!

2015 - The Year In Review

Every December, as I look back on the past 12 months and forward to the next dozen, I keep telling myself that nothing could possibly top what I've experienced so far. And every time, I turn out to be wrong. :)

2015 has been particularly special, of course, because I turned 40 in June, and wanted it to be memorable in every possible way.

January kicked off with a bang as Michael Buble performed at the Marina Bay Sands.

In April, it was a gorgeous production of Beauty and the Beast followed by a fabulous SSO Pops concert.

Mum and I flew off to Greece in May, where we spent an exhausting but unforgettable fortnight exploring the mainland and the beautiful islands of Mykonos and Santorini. It wasn't an easy tour and I almost couldn't stand up straight at the end of it, but it was one of the most amazing trips I'd ever taken, and I have a soft spot for the Greeks, who treated us with great warmth and generosity.

2 more fantastic shows came in July - Singin' In The Rain and Disney On Classic.

August sprang a surprise when I attended a fund-raising dinner organized by Adrian and Tracie Pang's Pangdemonium company - and came face to face with Jim Rogers!

The annual F1 race came round in September, but my main interest was Maroon 5, who delivered a spectacular performance which was attended by 60,000 fans. It was hot, humid and extremely tiring ( try standing for 3-4 hours without proper ventilation ), but it was all worth it!

October brought another SSO Pops concert ( unbelievably good! ), followed by a trip to the United States, where I attended the American College of Emergency Physicians' Scientific Assembly in Boston, then hopped over to New York for a week of Broadway shows, which spilled over into November.

Broadway proved to be even more incredible than I could've imagined! It was my 4th visit to the Big Apple, and previously, I'd already seen my fair share of stars ( Daniel Radcliffe, Bernadette Peters, Bryan Cranston, James Franco ) and personal favourites ( Michael C. Hall, Tracy Letts, Tony Shalhoub ).

This time, my cup really overflowed, with the likes of Matthew Broderick, Keira Knightley, Mark Strong, Kelli O'Hara, Clive Owen, Bruce Willis and Al Pacino treading the boards.

The most awesome thing that happened? Having Mr. Pacino notice me when I asked for a photo, and snapping a super cool shot of our two heads touching. It was the prize of a lifetime, and I still can't believe how great he is to his fans, compared to other less accomplished actors with attitude problems.

Another darling - Mark Strong, who was so friendly and attentive, and whose performance in A View From The Bridge blew my mind. A Tony nomination is guaranteed.

Within 3 weeks of returning to Singapore, we were off again to Sydney, this time catching Hugh Jackman's Broadway To Oz Australian tour.
After missing his Broadway stints multiple times over the years ( timing issue ), I prayed for another chance and God answered! We caught the 2 December show - I chose the date because it was originally the last one for Sydney, but they added a 4th performance shortly after - and it turned out to be a huge blessing because Russell Crowe made a special appearance. Yes, THAT Russell Crowe!
The 2 men did a Les Mis duet then Mr. C went solo with his guitar on an incredible rendition of Folsom Prison Blues. I'm telling you, I LITERALLY LOST MY MIND at that point. I kept screaming "OMG" at my mum for 10 minutes lol!
It's been confirmed that Mr. C appeared only on that night, and not on any of the other 3. My head is still reeling! :)

And thanks to a few kind souls from the Dainty Group which organized the tour, Mr. J autographed my show programme and my fan letter was confirmed as forwarded. A meet and greet would've been impossible for a nobody like me, so this is the next best thing and I thank everyone who helped!

Later this month, the International Premier Tennis League will come to Singapore, bringing Roger Federer, whom I've admired for years. Really looking forward to that!

And next April, we return to Sydney to see Josh Groban at the Opera House. Both shows sold out within days, with most of the tickets snapped up within the first few hours. The website crashed and the phone lines were jammed, so it's a miracle I managed to get seats within the first 10-15 rows, when everything else in the back was gone. Divine intervention yet again!

Also let's not forget my graduation from the Nanyang Polytechnic sonography course in August, after almost 2 years of hard work. I'm very happy about the achievement, but I don't think I want to go through something like that again. Made my hair turn white!

Last but not least, I can't wait to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens on opening day!

I don't know what else 2016 will bring, but my 40th year officially ends in June so anything can happen in 6 months! Thank you, Lord, for such a blessed year. :)