7

Ok ok. So, 2006 was yesterday and 2007 is today. For most of us, it was a year to remember. A year of growth of maturity and definitely a year of great memories and setbacks. As we take a moment to look back in time, the only thing that I urge everybody to do is to sieve out the learning points from any setbacks and tribulations. Feel blessed that we've come out of 2006 still alive and given another year of opportunity to value-add ourselves mentally, spiritually and physically and to help as many unfortunate people as we can.

Forgive and forget because from then onwards can anybody move on with a clear mind, without clogs and knowing that we've tied up as many loose ends that we could. Don't let any regrets linger around us like the shadows that we have. This entry is just a reflection of what has transcended in my life for the past 12 months.


I still remember telling Charlene when I was in year 1 that I'll miss her and the OBS group once I graduate. She thought I was nuts but I knew better. Time flies without warning. Being engrossed with work and obligations, we are basically blindfolded as night falls and daylight rises. As much as we wanted the stupid terms to finish soon, we also wished that time would halt for great moments, moments that you wish would never end. Irony indeed.


I've been telling people how blessed I've been to have met them and leaving short handwritten messages on Stickit notes and paste them on their tables. I like small handwritten notes. It's has a personal touch to it. And I've been observing that people are TOOOO SERIOUS about their life and the things that they do. You've gotta try and let loose, be GOOFEY and be spontaneous!!! Happy happy!


Remember this flower? When I was young, I used to drink the liquid from this flower. You have to extract it from the stem of the flower. It tastes sweet! Who has done it before?


3am and taking a long walk alone from Esplanade back to school to collect Chinook. As I stood there, I made a mark and told myself that as I stood there, I want to come back to the same spot being a more successful person than I was before.


Taking the public transport during the rainy season proves to be a HUGE challenge. Waiting ain't my thing. I want things to be on time. I want to be inn control of where I go and where I go.


The route where most of the SMU students take. Recognize the stretch?


My gig at Merbau Wine Gallery. The Jenggos came down on Christmas to chat up before I leave for BKK.
From top left, Me, Santa JZ, Santa Ben, Reindeer Melvin.


Right after the gig, I went off to 7-11 to get some food and guess what I stumbled on just around the corner of my workplace. Gonna miss all the fun sessions that I've had with many groups. I know you guys have your own groups and how fun it is to just sit and just crap the night away.


Remember where this place is?


Aloooooo CYBERSPACE!!! Grettings by the MOST Available and Reliable and Capable Bachelors you can ever find. Hehehe...


Now, talking about bachelors, one of my best friends just got engaged. My heartiest congratulations goes out to Syed Ali and Lala. Ali and I have been friends since primary schools all the way till now. That's 17 years for you. Same primary, secondary and JC.


From left, Wan Tabr, Hidayat and Shaiful all of whom are attached. We've been guessing who'll be the next in line to get engaged.


Me? Well, I've yet to find the person who is crazy enough to put up with me. But all I know, she's going to be my pillar of hope and existance. Maybe she's just out there drooling in one corner of the earth. Dear, if by any chance that you're reading this, go and shower first.


Everybody needs a support system such as friends and family members. The people who are constantly there to keep you sane during times of chaos, to keep you grounded when many others around you think you're a hot shot, to keep you company when the world just seems to alienate you for being different.


Yeah, sometimes, you accidentally burn bridges but try and build them back again. I have had a lot of misunderstandings throughout 2006 and tried to reconcile things. Do forgive me for any faults of mine. I have my flaws and still learning life just like everyone else.


But the most important thing to me is that I do have the few great friends who are always there for me in times of confusion and I feel blessed to have met them early in my life. This is what I call a picture perfect. My time will come. I just don't know when. Maybe in Las Vegas! Viva Las Vegas! Hehe...


Things took a huge 360 degrees turn when I was offered to work as a singer. Didn't expect things to be as sweet as this. I mean, here I am, having a taste of what the gigging circuit is all about. Given the opportunity to practice my skill as a singer and more importantly as a performer.


I started from one place and opportunities started to branch out from every spot that I play. Here is the list of places that I've played before.

1. Timbre
2. Harry's Bar Holland V
3. Acid Bar
4. Merbau Wine Gallery
5. Venezia @ Singapore Art Museum

I've worked my ass off throughout 2006 and even played during the exams. Some said I was suicidal to do that but hey, if I want to go Thailand, I need to work hard for it.


PEEKABOO!!!


Talking about suicidal, my neighbour fell from her kitchen window. Well let's just say, she's a little unstable in her mind. But I think she fell while trying to hang some clothes or something.


I was only clad with my boxers when the police officers knocked on my door and asked questions about neighbour. All I could say was that she used to fall from her kitchen window before. A piece of Hearlanders drama for you. Hey, I was a police officer before ok! Move over Aaron Aziz, I'm taking charge now!


Remember this tree? This was given by the daughters of the owner of Venezia. They said it was airflown from Switzerland. Don't know how true it is.


In early February, I lost one of my most influential figures of my adulthood. The late Rosli Bin Amri, my uncle, was pivotal in shaping the person that I want to be; tough, determined, perservering and compassionate was just a few of the attributes that I want to emulate. It was not easy on his family, especially his children. This is Siti Fatimah, the youngest of 6 and has a splitting image of her late father. All I could do for him would be to help my auntie guide their children throughout this challenging period.


Hi darling. Love you lots...


This is Husein.


I guess many of you would like to know what is a typical day for Jamiel. Well, let me guide you. My room, my study table, my studio and my bed are all in the living room. What you see is my dinner ritual. Left side of the screen, you see a keropok container, then you'll see a bowl of maggie mee, on the right you'll see a plate of chicken wings, you'll see my iBook and MSN application wide open and I'll be watching TV all at the same time. Multi-tasker indeed I am. Ignore the Baygon. Let Baygon be Baygon ok?


The place where my guitar is standing is my studio. When I'm done with eating, it's time to make music.


Do you see the spot where the guitar is standing? Well, that is also my bed. Everytime I head back from school, that will be my resting place. I don't have a proper bed. I don't like my bed. I like the sofa.


To complete the night, I drown myself with chocolates. They're nice. Well, that's because they're free. Hehe... Oh shuttup! You guys would love free stuff too. And one cat certainly knows how to enjoy free stuff.


Meet the cat of the year. Yes, Attan. The cat that drinks from the pail in the toilet. The cat that eats ice-cream. The cat that sleeps on MY bed and the cat that loves to listen to my daily ramblings. Not as if he has any choice.


If you look at the Friskies box, you'll see his face there. No kidding. This cat has a modelling potential but I don't want him to be sissified. He's currently the king of the void deck. He'll kick the ass of any cat who think's they're smarter than him. GO ATTAN!


I don't party much actually but because it's close to the new year, I'd figure I'd pay the notorious Zouk a visit. I have a dark history with Zouk. Only the few people who were really close to me would know about it.


It was freaking packed at Zouk. Can you believe it? Full House. And waiting in line in the rain isn't exactly my idea of a perfect night. I like the lighting effect.


As you can guess, it's Mambo night. Ok Ok. I used to hate the idea of going on Mambo nights BUT they have GOOOD music. Red hot chilli peppers, Toploader, Maroon 5. Not bad actually.


Lights!!! Wheee!!!


If anybody can guess what this is, you are ONE INCREDIBLE PERSON. I'll give you 1000 points if you can get this right. No kidding.


I slept over at Shaiful's house after watching a few movies. Felt too lazy to ride back home. In the end, we ended up playing guitar and crapping around with Wan Tabr and Shaiful's two younger brothers. I slept at about 5am and didn't wake up till about 3pm the next day. Late nights nasi lemak and coke should be condoned because they will leave you with a stomachache the next morning.


Hari Raya Haji was a quiet one this year. Nothing much happened. Just the usual visiting of houses of the elderly, more importantly those who have already performed the pilgrimage to the Holy Land of Mekah. My dad, mom and auntie, Marfoah.


My uncle, Anuar. He's an inspiration. Humble and very nice, just like my late grandfather.


This is my uncle's family. He wanted a daughter on his 4th attempt but had a son instead. Still, he's one of the cutest I've seen.


Everybody meet Danish Irfan. Big eyes huh.


My sis finally graduated from primary school and she's heading for an express stream education. Seriously, I don't really care what school she's going to as long as it's mixed. She wants to learn the piano and guitar and all I could say to her is to go and learn it through the internet. She's been doing well learning the fundamentals here and there. It's not cheap to learn piano. She's all grown up now and it's kinda sad to leave her for 4 months but I think she's gotten used to not having me at home. It's good for her because from how I see things, I will be living away from home in time to come. I want her to feel independant. At least I have a deputy at home to supervise her discipline. I trust my younger brother. We have similar styles of how we want to raise our kids. But I'll be back. That's for sure.


Eerie stretch but it is really calm. I like.


Well, as the clock ticked by, I headed down to the jetty just behind my house to watch some fireworks and have some memory of what I had done during the new year. I used to run up and down the steep slope during my fit days. Some say the place is haunted. But hey, I don't care. I just want to see fireworks, not other things.


I used to study by the jetty during my A Levels. It's kinda refreshing but not condusive because the weather can be quite unpredictable. Hot and windy at one point and then all of a sudden, it would rain.


That's Johor for you. They kinda light up at night. It's nice for a cool chat by the sea.


I hanged out with the void deck soccer boys and just played some tunes with them. That's my bro on the far right.


My brother Joharie and I have never been this close before. I truly love him and my family. The conversations and chats that we've had, the laughter that we shared are the most precious things that I've ever possessed. Wouldn't trade anything for the world for that. Gonna miss him.


He's a quiet fella. But he has a lot of hidden attributes that many others have seen, unlike me because we've never had the time to spend time with each other. Our timings just clashed badly and we're working hard to close the gap.



As I looked across the sea, I ponder on my fate. Sometimes, I think, I should just keep on going even if I do not know where I am going. It's like getting lost in a jungle. If you don't know where you are, that doesn't mean you're lost, you just don't know where you are and if you just keep on going, you might find a way out of that jungle.


Till then, I bid everybody good luck in 2007. Do more good and sin less ok?

jamiel
7 is my number