Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Happy Bastille Day
Bon anniversaire, France!!!
Oui, today is the 14th of July. The French National Day. Just came back from Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa. So tired. Went there at 3.30pm and only reached home about 8pm.
As part of the Alliance Francaise de Singapour choir, I was invited to the Ambassador of France and Mrs Jean-Paul Reau's National Day party. It was pretty grand. Great experience. I think many important people were there. Some people from the Singapore military with lots of stripes. Some french military too, I guess. And of course CEOs of the companies. I don't know the faces but I did see some bouquets around addressed to the ambassador of france and Mrs Jean-Paul Reau. I only can recognise a few names like Mr Shaw Vee Meng, who, by the way, is also the founder of Alliance Francaise de Singapour. And guess who else??? Sharon's favourite, Mr and Mrs Edwin Thumbu!!!! (Is that how his name is spelt???)
The guest of honour was Mr Ho Peng Kee. Anyone smart enough to guess who's that?
Haha. Thats the Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs. Did you know that? I didn't. Neither did my mum. Never heard of the guy till today.
Anyway, the guy was like the last person to arrive. Probably a Singaporean custom to come late for functions... Then the ambassador gave a speech and toasted to President Nathan. Then we all had to sing the Majulah Singapura twice. Then Minister Ho gave roughly the same speech and toasted to President Chirac. Then we sang the La Marseillaise.
It was like, "To the President of the Republic of Singapore!!!"
"To the President of the French Republic!!!"
Then dinner!!! There was red and white wine, and lots of french cuisine. I tried the fried silver fish, which was pretty good squeezed with lemon.
And that dish... what's it called??? Something noir...Esther, can you remember??? The one with bread and pork's blood? Oh yes, pork's blood. Sounds terrible but its really good indeed.
And the French cheese. Its so different from those found our local supermarket like craft cheese, etc. Those cheese were real cheese! So very thick and so very bitter. Nicholas taught us before about the different types of french cheese but I can't remember already. But I'm not exactly used to the taste. Too thick for my taste.
I didn't dare try the escargot though.
Did I miss out anything else?
Some guys were cute...
La Marseillaise
Allons enfants de la Patrie
Le jour de gloire est arrivé.
Contre nous, de la tyrannie,
L'étandard sanglant est levé,(bis)
Entendez-vous, dans la compagnes.
Mugir ces farouches soldats
Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras
Egorger vos fils,
vos compagnes
Aux armes citoyens!
Formez vos bataillons,
Marchons, marchons!
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons
Tremblez, tyrans et vous perfides
L'opprobre de tous les partis
Tremblez! vos projets parricides
Vont enfin recevoir leurs prix!
Tout est soldat pour vous combattre
S'ils tombent, nos jeunes héros
La France en produit de nouveaux,
Contre vous tout prêts à se battre
Aux armes citoyens!
Formez vos bataillons,
Marchons, marchons!
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons
Amour sacré de la Patrie,
Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs,
Liberté, liberté cherie,
Combats avec tes defénseurs;(bis)
Sous drapeaux, que la victoire
Acoure à tes mâles accents;
Que tes ennemis expirants
Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire!
Aux armes citoyens!
Formez vos bataillons,
Marchons, marchons!
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons.
¶ Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Oui, today is the 14th of July. The French National Day. Just came back from Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa. So tired. Went there at 3.30pm and only reached home about 8pm.
As part of the Alliance Francaise de Singapour choir, I was invited to the Ambassador of France and Mrs Jean-Paul Reau's National Day party. It was pretty grand. Great experience. I think many important people were there. Some people from the Singapore military with lots of stripes. Some french military too, I guess. And of course CEOs of the companies. I don't know the faces but I did see some bouquets around addressed to the ambassador of france and Mrs Jean-Paul Reau. I only can recognise a few names like Mr Shaw Vee Meng, who, by the way, is also the founder of Alliance Francaise de Singapour. And guess who else??? Sharon's favourite, Mr and Mrs Edwin Thumbu!!!! (Is that how his name is spelt???)
The guest of honour was Mr Ho Peng Kee. Anyone smart enough to guess who's that?
Haha. Thats the Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs. Did you know that? I didn't. Neither did my mum. Never heard of the guy till today.
Anyway, the guy was like the last person to arrive. Probably a Singaporean custom to come late for functions... Then the ambassador gave a speech and toasted to President Nathan. Then we all had to sing the Majulah Singapura twice. Then Minister Ho gave roughly the same speech and toasted to President Chirac. Then we sang the La Marseillaise.
It was like, "To the President of the Republic of Singapore!!!"
"To the President of the French Republic!!!"
Then dinner!!! There was red and white wine, and lots of french cuisine. I tried the fried silver fish, which was pretty good squeezed with lemon.
And that dish... what's it called??? Something noir...Esther, can you remember??? The one with bread and pork's blood? Oh yes, pork's blood. Sounds terrible but its really good indeed.
And the French cheese. Its so different from those found our local supermarket like craft cheese, etc. Those cheese were real cheese! So very thick and so very bitter. Nicholas taught us before about the different types of french cheese but I can't remember already. But I'm not exactly used to the taste. Too thick for my taste.
I didn't dare try the escargot though.
Did I miss out anything else?
Some guys were cute...
La Marseillaise
Allons enfants de la Patrie
Le jour de gloire est arrivé.
Contre nous, de la tyrannie,
L'étandard sanglant est levé,(bis)
Entendez-vous, dans la compagnes.
Mugir ces farouches soldats
Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras
Egorger vos fils,
vos compagnes
Aux armes citoyens!
Formez vos bataillons,
Marchons, marchons!
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons
Tremblez, tyrans et vous perfides
L'opprobre de tous les partis
Tremblez! vos projets parricides
Vont enfin recevoir leurs prix!
Tout est soldat pour vous combattre
S'ils tombent, nos jeunes héros
La France en produit de nouveaux,
Contre vous tout prêts à se battre
Aux armes citoyens!
Formez vos bataillons,
Marchons, marchons!
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons
Amour sacré de la Patrie,
Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs,
Liberté, liberté cherie,
Combats avec tes defénseurs;(bis)
Sous drapeaux, que la victoire
Acoure à tes mâles accents;
Que tes ennemis expirants
Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire!
Aux armes citoyens!
Formez vos bataillons,
Marchons, marchons!
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons.
¶ Wednesday, July 14, 2004