Remembering Gregory Lemarchal

Almost 2 years ago french singer Gregory Lemarchal passed away at the age of 23 yrs.He became famous after winning the french "Star Academy".Despite the fact he was suffering since birth from an ilness called Mucoviscidose he managed to achieve his dream and became an idol.All of France admired and loved this young singer who soon gained the nickname"le petit prince"(the little prince).

In his short career he made a tour through be Belgium,France and Switzerland.He played the famous l'Olympia theatre several times with great success.

While working on his second CD the news came he had suddenly died on 30th April 2007 at a Paris hospital.He was buried in his home village in the french Alps.

Fans who had already bought tickets for his planned concert at Aix-les-Bains in june 2007 didnt want their money refunded but instead donated the revenue to research for this ilness.

7.5 million euro was raised in few months after his death by the institution his parents set up to combate and research Mucoviscidose

Insane house in Kuala Lumpur

This house was completed late 2008, designed by french designers Joui Manku.It houses 3 generations of a malaysian power fammily,YTL owners(Pangkor Laut resort etc.)It s located in a suburb of the city and has 9 bedrooms, 21 bathrooms,2 grand spiral staircases and a grand ballroom with a chandelier of 13000 individually crafted porcelain pentals.The house has a retro 60 s kind of design(reminding me of the Thunderbirds residence).Insane and over the top in its design but also magnificent and leaving me breathless

Preppy summer style

I came across this great looking madras blazer from the RL-collection It looks stunning with a khaki pants and small bow tie.Refined yet informal it brings me in the mood for this comming summer.Preppy style at its best is tastefully combining dress and casual items together.This particular look is called the Sotheby s,it s an understated look thats both relaxed and sophisticated.But dont forget to wear bow tie, it accentuates the total look

Lazy sunday afternoon

Sunday is the day i like to spend at home.I am passing my time doing nothing at all, except surfing the net.
I have been single for many years now and living alone i am used to doing my own things.Thats the advantage of being single.I can plan anything at any time i desire.
I am not single by choice.It just happened this way.Didnt get to know anyone in past years which i could spend my life with.All of my friends are in long term relationship and keep on asking why i never found the right guy.At my age you learn to do some self reflection and i have come to conclusion that there are a few factors that contribute to me being single.
First of all i know i got a difficult personnality.I have my own strong opinions about matters.Also i need a lot of space and free time for myself.
And my job as a flight attendant also makes it difficult to meet the right person and to develop a relationship.I am away so often ,travelling to all corners of this world.For some people my job might seem so glamorous but in reality its not.There were many trips in which i felt awfully lonely.
As i m growing older now i realise you cant have everything in your life.You take a certain road in life and thereby leaving the crossroads unexplored.
And who knows where the road will lead me.I m sure life has still got some surprises for me (whether they ll be nice or bad i dont know).

Saint Matthew passion

I m looking forward to go and experience the St.Matthew passion again just before Easter.This masterpiece by J.S. Bach is traditionally performed around Easter time as it engages the story of the Crucifiction , death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I m not religious but even for a non believer this is a wonderfull majestic piece of music.It was said that Bach told that he saw God,Heaven and the Angels while he was composing this music.

I m especially moved by these 2 parts.First is called "Erbarme dich" and second,"Wir setzen uns mit tranen nieder"

Summer, the first time

Was browsing youtube today and found this song that takes me back to my teenage years.Bobby Goldsboro s 'summer the first time', a song of a boy comming of age with an older woman.In my case it was an older man ,well i was 17 and he was around 27.but if you are 17 you certainly regard someone of 27 as old.

The song is really nice and brings back memories of a hot summer s afternoon many years ago...

Indulgence

Yesterday my good friend F. and me went for dinner in La Rive at the Amstel hotel(a magnificent old hotel on banks of the Amstel river.This week is so called "restaurant week" in which u can experience fine dining at high end restaurants at discounted price.La Rive is listed in the Michelin restaurant guide and has been awarded with one star.Needless to say it was a heavenly experience.The food was delicious and innovative;

first 2 different "amuses"(of which one was a caramelized cherry tomate with herbs,fried and then slightly frozen again

appetizer was a roasted coquille, leaf lard,salsify,clam, savoy cabbage and smoked sausage

main course, sauteed cod, eel fritter, cauliflower,zucchini with verjus reduction

pre dessert
spoom of lime sherbet with vanilla foam

and dessert selection of traditional homemade ice cream and sherbets

The restaurant is decorated in a Ralph Lauren club style with waiters in Tails and white bow tie.You get an impacable service and once you have been to this class of restaurants you will never want to go anywhere else anymore(according to my experiences..).Its worth every penny, but i rather save up to go here and skip the cheaper restaurants for few months

Friday we will have lunch in a 2 star michelin restaurant,Ron Blaauw ,in a small village outside Amsterdam, so i really spoil myself this week(one has to indulge oneself now and then:-)

Racism and prejudice

In the sixties Katherine Hepburn together with Spencer Tracy starred in the movie 'Guess who is comming to dinner".This is a commedy in which liberal thinking parents are confronted with the new boyfriend of their daughter.The fact that he is black brings out is very self confronting to them and their way of thinking.....

In this scene from the movie we see how Hepburn deals with a nosy employee from her art gallery who is racial prejudiced.Its hilarious and shows the great talent of this unforgettable and remarkable actress

Indiana Jones opening scene

One of movies greatest opening scenes featuring the lovely Kate Capshaw singing "Anything goes"in mandarin( would luv to see this performed in a chinese drag show!)Enjoy!

Puccini and Brel

This video was made at the Silver Jubilee concert for H.M. the Queen in front of the Royal Palace in Amsterdam in April 2005.

I love this aria by Puccini 'O mio bambino caro (oh my dear child) sung by the talented Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu.A really wonderfull and intense aria

Second part is the song "La chanson de vieux amants "sung here by Angela Gheorghiu in duet with Jeroen Willems , partly in french and partly in dutch.A song that is so intense it really touches me over and over again

At the end of this clip you see HM the Queen and the royal princes and princesses leaving.Mind you, the Queen is a widow so the fellow sitting next to her and walking behind her is the Lord Mayor of Amsterdam