Seen.By.Ice.Queen: coming to my senses

The greatness of a Daddy's love

2011-07-27T16:21:00.005+08:00

As many issues trouble and take my attention in the recent weeks, I had my emotions fluctuating all over the place. I look everywhere for answers and though I am still 'in the process', this particular posting that surfaced from my friend's FB updates came up and caught my attention.

I feel particularly affected by the article also because it parallels a certain part of my life.

1. I lost my father to an accident when I was 2 months old. So I've never known him and what I know of him, was always through what other people told me about him and the things he left behind.

2. I lost my mum to cancer also in November 2009. I was not close to my mum growing up but towards her final years, and esp after her cancer diagnosis, we grew close on an emotional level. I even started to hug her (even though being typical Asians, we've not touched each other since she didn't have to hold my hand while crossing the roads).

After reading through this, i decided to post this so that more people can read about it and pick up the relevant message for themselves. In a way that it has touched me, I am also certain it will touch/inspire you (even if it is not at the same level or way)

~~~

Memories of Mandy Flanagan’s late husband Paul fill the house they used to share.

Pictures of him as a floppy-haired schoolboy, a handsome teenage rugby star, a newlywed, and a devoted dad, adorn the walls and window ledges of their country cottage.

But Paul, a teacher, who died of cancer at the age of 45 in November 2009, passionately believed his children, Thomas and Lucy — just five and one-and-half years old at the time — should have more than fading photographs to remember him by.

Paul Flanagan with his children Thomas and Lucy. He died of cancer at the age of 45 in November 2009

‘There was nothing more important to Paul than being the best father he could be,’ says Mandy, 44.

‘When he knew he was dying, there was no time for self-pity. He became absolutely focused on doing whatever he could to continue being a good dad to them throughout the years, even though he wouldn’t be here in person.’

He wrote them letters, filmed DVD messages, bought future birthday presents, and even filled a large chest with his favourite books.

‘Each book is accompanied by a note to Thomas and Lucy explaining why Paul loved it, and how much he hopes they will too when they’re old enough to read it,’ explains Mandy.

But perhaps Paul’s greatest gift to his wife and children was a document titled ‘On finding fulfilment’, which Mandy discovered on his laptop, by chance last month.

‘I opened it and, with tears rolling down my cheeks, I discovered his bullet-pointed code to living a good and happy life,’ says Mandy.

‘The list of 28 instructions for living a good life contained no empty platitudes; each one completely reflects the way that Paul lived his own life.

‘He was wise and brave and decent to the core, but I could never have found the words to sum him up so perfectly as he has himself.

'I can’t tell you what a comfort it is to know that our children will grow up with a real understanding of what made Paul, Paul.’

Mandy Flanagan with husband Paul's document 'On finding fulfilment' which she found on his laptop by chance last month

She adds: ‘It would have been our tenth wedding anniversary this year, and while we didn’t have a perfect marriage — lots of love and laughs, but lots of arguments too — I realised when I read his words that, when it came to the stuff that really matters in life, we were absolutely united.’

Addressing his children, who were too young to comprehend the tragedy that was unfolding, Paul writes: ‘In these last few weeks, following my terminal diagnosis, I have searched my soul and heart to find ways in which I can reach out to you as you grow up.

‘I’ve been thinking about the matters in life that are important, and the values and aspirations that make people happy and successful. In my view, and you may well have your own ideas by now, the formula is pretty simple.

‘The three most important virtues are: Loyalty, integrity and moral courage. If you aspire, friends will respect you, employers will retain you, and your father will be immensely proud of you.

‘I am therefore giving you several pieces of advice. These are the principles on which I have tried to build my life and they are exactly those that I would have encouraged you to embrace, had I been able to.

‘I love you very much. Never forget that.’

What follows is an extraordinary list of rules, which could enable us all to live better lives. It encompasses everything from the importance of table manners to the perils of gossiping and everything in between.

‘And it’s just so Paul!’ laughs Mandy today.

‘It makes me cry but it really makes me smile too.

‘He was an old-fashioned school-master and utterly meticulous when it came to manners. I’m obsessive over the kids’ “pleases and thank yous” because I know that Paul never let them get away with it.’

Mandy reads aloud from the list: ‘Be punctual … Show moral courage … Never, ever let a friend down … Well, that was Paul. He was maddeningly early for everything. He spoke up for what he felt was right, no matter how unpopular it might have made him. And I have never met anyone so loyal to their friends.

‘He also wrote that they should never give up, and he certainly never did. He fought so bravely, so courageously, right to the end.’

Paul was first diagnosed with skin cancer in 2004. A birthmark on his chest had become malignant, and was swiftly removed in November that year, when their son Thomas was just a few months old.

In January 2008, after years of regular check-ups, he was given the all-clear, when Mandy was expecting Lucy.

‘He was such a positive person, but he never allowed himself to believe that the cancer had been dealt with,’ says Mandy.

'Paul was wise and brave and decent to the core, but I could never have found the words to sum him up so perfectly as he has himself,' said Mandy

That May, a swelling appeared under Paul’s arm and specialists quickly confirmed his worst fears. The cancer had spread to the lymph glands in his arms, and was detected in his neck soon after. Surgery and radiotherapy did little to halt its progress. And, in March 2009, scans showed that the cancer had spread to his brain and his condition was terminal.

‘He never pitied himself,’ says Mandy. ‘The diagnosis, and perhaps the drugs he was on, triggered a sort of mania. He suddenly had so much energy. While I lay awake upstairs worrying, Paul would work through the nights, determined to get his affairs in order.’

He meticulously organised the family finances, arranged his own funeral, and even bought his own memorial bench for the grounds of Reigate Grammar School, where he had taught economics since 2003. He also set up a cricket team for all of his friends, who now play annual memorial matches to raise money for the Melanoma Foundation.

Over the weeks, piles of shoeboxes full of paperwork, hand-written letters and DVD messages for his family and friends took over the dining room.

And as his health deteriorated, Paul insisted that he and Mandy went shopping for Thomas and Lucy’s 18th and 21st birthday presents.

‘I wonder how we got through those days, but there’s a strange kind of adrenaline that just keeps you going,’ says Mandy.

‘You just want to do whatever feels right. We went to a jewellers in Spitalfields market in London to buy Lucy an eternity ring for her 21st.

‘When the woman at the counter asked: “Is it the right size?”, Paul and I just looked blankly at each other. “We don’t know,” I said.

‘She looked at Paul and saw how desperately ill he was. Then all three of us looked at Lucy sitting in her pushchair, completely oblivious to it all.’

Lucy was christened last summer. As a result, she has one godmother and nine godfathers — each a close friend of her father’s.

‘He wanted his friends to have a permanent tie to his family, I think,’ says Mandy. ‘And if Lucy couldn’t have her father, a fantastic team of godfathers was the very least she deserved.’

By the time Paul died — at home, eight months after his terminal diagnosis — Mandy felt certain that he would rest peacefully in the knowledge that he had left the best legacy that any father could.

‘When some people are told they have just a few months to live, they decide their life won’t be complete until they’ve bungee-jumped off Sydney Harbour Bridge or seen the Grand Canyon. But that wasn’t Paul. All that was important to him was right here.

‘He lived and died by his own rules, and I know he had found his own fulfilment.’

For information on melanoma visit melanoma.sgul.ac.uk

A FATHER'S RULES FOR FINDING FULFILMENT

Be courteous, be punctual, always say please and thank you, and be sure to hold your knife and fork properly. Others take their cue on how to treat you from your manners.

Be kind, considerate and compassionate when others are in trouble, even if you have problems of your own. Others will admire your selflessness and will help you in due course.

Show moral courage. Do what is right, even if that makes you unpopular. I always thought it important to be able to look at myself in the shaving mirror every morning and not feel guilt or remorse. I depart this world with a pretty clear conscience.

Show humility. Stand your ground but pause to reflect on what the other side are saying, and back off when you know you are wrong. Never worry about losing face. That only happens when you are pig-headed.

Learn from your mistakes. You will make plenty so use them as a learning tool. If you keep making the same mistake or run into a problem, you’re doing something wrong.

Avoid disparaging someone to a third party; it is only you who will look bad. If you have a problem with someone, tell them face to face.

Hold fire! If someone crosses you, don’t react immediately. Once you say something it can never be taken back, and most people deserve a second chance.

Have fun. If this involves taking risks, so be it. If you get caught, hold your hands up.

Give to charity and help those who are less fortunate than yourselves: it’s easy and so rewarding.

Always look on the upside! The glass is half full, never half empty. Every adversity has a silver lining if you seek it out.

Make it your instinct always to say ‘yes’. Look for reasons to do something, not reasons to say no. Your friends will cherish you for that.

Be canny: you will get more of what you want if you can give someone more of what they desire. Compromise can be king.

Always accept a party invitation. You may not want to go, but they want you there. Show them courtesy and respect.

Never ever let a friend down. I would bury bodies for my friends, if they asked me to . . . which is why I have chosen them carefully.

Always tip for good service. It shows respect. But never reward poor service. Poor service is insulting.

Always treat those you meet as your social equal, whether they are above or below your station in life. For those above you, show due deference, but don’t be a sycophant.

Always respect age, as age equals wisdom.

Be prepared to put the interests of your sibling first.

Be proud of who you are and where you come from, but open your mind to other cultures and languages. When you begin to travel (as I hope you will), you’ll learn that your place in the world is both vital and insignificant. Don’t get too big for your breeches.

Be ambitious, but not nakedly so. Be prepared to back your assertions with craftsmanship and hard work.

Live every day to its full: do something that makes you smile or laugh, and avoid procrastination.

Give of your best at school. Some teachers forget that pupils need incentives. So if your teacher doesn’t give you one, devise your own.

Always pay the most you can afford. Never skimp on hotels, clothing, shoes, make-up or jewellery. But always look for a deal. You get what you pay for.

Never give up! My two little soldiers have no dad, but you are brave, big-hearted, fit and strong. You are also loved by an immensely kind and supportive team of family and friends. You make your own good fortune, my children, so battle on.

Never feel sorry for yourself, or at least don’t do it for long. Crying doesn’t make things better.

Look after your body and it will look after you.

Learn a language, or at least try. Never engage a person abroad in conversation without first greeting them in their own language; by all means ask if they speak English!

And finally, cherish your mother, and take very good care of her.

I love you both with all my heart.
Daddy x

Awaiting the Tooth Fairy

2011-06-12T23:00:00.007+08:00

I wrote about taking my son to watch The Tooth Fairy three years back and now, he is coming 'face-to-face' with THE Tooth Fairy.

For some weeks now, my six year old has been dealing with the emerging adult teeth and two wobbly milk teeth. At a recent visit to the wonderful dentist at White Dental Group, the nice pediatric dentist told my son that she will task him with the homework of wobbling and eventually extracting his own teeth.

So for the past week or so, he has been religiously doing his 'homework' after brushing his teeth every morning and night. Tonight while supervising his brushing, I noticed that one of his wobbly tooth was hanging by literally just a 'thread' and so ready to come off. So I encouraged him to try and yank it off. The brave little dude took the handkerchief from me for better grip on the tooth and did just that! Before I even realized, he was holding on to this tooth going, "see mom, it came out!"

I was so excited it was almost as if I was the one losing the first tooth. After I calmed down from my excitement, my six year old said he wanted to write a note to the tooth fairy so she knows exactly where to find his tooth and what to do with it.

So here goes the note...

This is in a box

Dear toothfairy
Please take GooD
care of MY 1st
tooth.

Love Regi.

Aww.. My brave little man. And I'd better go dig up that dollar coin that the 'tooth fairy' is supposed to give him before I forget :P

Do you remember

2011-05-17T13:10:00.004+08:00

Got a missed call earlier today from an unfamiliar number. So I called back. Conversation went something like that:

Me: Hi, I had a missed call from this number?
Caller: Yes. Michelle?
Me: Yes, who's this please?
Caller: This is Richard.
Me: Richard Heng?
Caller: Yes.
Me: Hi Richard.
Caller: I just want to thank you. Do you remember years ago, you found my Sony Ericsson phone and returned it to the police station at AH?
Me: ??? (this is obviously NOT the Richard Heng I know)
Caller: This was in 2006 remember?
Me: Erm... ya. I think so.
Caller: Are you a mother?
Me: Yes..
Caller: I wanted to wish you a Happy Mother's Day. Sorry it came a bit late.
Me: Oh... erm okay... Thanks! Thanks for calling. Very sweet of you...

Anyway, the puzzling teleconversation went on for a couple more minutes talking about inconsequential things..

I vaguely remembered this incident but it was just really strange that he's calling me now.. After like.. what? Five years?

But one thing that really struck me when I heard his voice over the phone was that he sounded somewhat.. sad.

The skeptic in me was reacting to how bizarre this call was. But the other side makes me want to call him back and find out if he is ok..

P.S: Sorry for the mindless post. Just had to verbalize it.

Sentosa Island

2011-05-06T16:47:00.013+08:00

Had a work appointment at Sentosa yesterday. So i had the fortunate opportunity to visit our entertaining island on a weekday when most folks were in their concrete jungles. Took the boardwalk from VivoCity to the Visitors Centre at Sentosa and though the weather was pretty hot, most parts of the walk was very well-shaded.

Heading to Sentosa via the boardwalk

or rather using the travellator that was in the shelter

I can see the RWS fairly clearly from the boardwalk

The Crane Dance in daylight

Love how they adorn the typically unsightly rubbish bins with dainty plants

Haven't quite found out what the deal is with cranes and Sentosa but love these origami ones made from recycled tear sheets that were dangling off the ceilings of the boardwalk.

Nothing beats a nice, cold, coconut sorbet in the middle of a hot, sunny day.

Heading back to VivoCity with a smile :)

P.S: Look out for the Sentosa TVC and print ads that targets the mid-year school break ;)

L.O.V.E.

2011-04-13T23:33:00.004+08:00

If you get there before I do
Don't give up on me
I'll meet you when my chores are through
I don't know how long I'll be here
But I'm not gonna let you down
Darlin' wait and see
And between now and then
Till I see you again I'll be loving you
Love Me

This song never fails to bring tears to my eyes. Mind you, I'm not a sappy soul. In fact, I've been repeated chided by my sisters for smirking instead of crying at soppy films.

But this song. This song hits that nerve.

I remembered one time when I was seated by the Suntec fountain having dinner with my, then boyfriend. They were playing this song in the background. Right there, in the middle of dinner, tears just rolled down my cheeks. (needless to say it freaked the hell outta my bf but THAT is another story for another time.)

Why the raw nerve you ask. The problem is, I really don't know. My better friends will tell you I am logical as hell when it comes to matters of the heart. Well, almost. I am as unromantic and impassive to the art of romance as a woman is likely to be but I am after all not made of stone.

I have been spending a good part of my life trying to figure out this illusive idea called LOVE. How do you know when it is LOVE. What is LOVE? When is LOVE, LOVE? Who do we really LOVE? Why do you LOVE who you LOVE?

The one abstract, intangible THING that has made many otherwise regular, right-minded folks do the strangest things. Let's not even go into history & fairy tales (Romeo & Juliet, 粱山伯祝英台, Anthony & Cleopatra, Prince Charles & Princess Di... blah blah blah...) but just around us, we know people who have wrecked their lives (literally or figuratively) because of LOVE. Lose weight, lose appetite. lose sleep, lose their mind because of LOVE.

Ever so often, we hear about the increase in divorce rates. Does that spell the end of love around us? Or signify the blossoming of new LOVE?

Around me, I have friends, family, people I know. Celebrating or suffering because of LOVE.

But what IS love? I really do not know. I can't even begin to describe.

When my paternal grandpa passed away while I was a teenager, his first wife (he had 2 that we knew of) whom he had 4 children with (before leaving behind in China and coming to Singapore to set up another family) flew in from China and wept bitterly at the funeral, as if she spent every single day of her married life to him sharing his bed and life.

Looking at her back then, I wondered to myself how she had remained so in LOVE with him while he spent most of their married lives away from her.

In my late teens, I met a man whose indiscreet relationship with a married lady led to so much drama that almost cost him his life. This woman says she LOVEs him. But did he LOVE her?

A lady I know was in LOVE with a man for 8 years before he broke up with her and married someone else a year later. It's been almost 3 decades. She's remained single since. So did he LOVE her or did he try to find out if he was indeed in LOVE with her only to discover he did not. hence the result? Is she still in LOVE with him? Or has she given up on LOVE?

LOVE.. you can't see it, you can't hear it, you can't taste it, you can't smell it, you can't touch it. But when it happens, it excites all your senses and makes you go senseless. But when it ceases, it makes you feel like a walking carcass.

So intangible and yet so powerful to be able to cause real physical damage. I rest my case..

"The best things in life, are not things"

2011-04-05T00:30:00.015+08:00

Today is a day to give thanks.

To God: for letting me wake up alive and well.

To my sweet 6 year old present: it's OK that you didn't get me a present because you are the best present of my life.

To my family: for cooking the mee swah with love, for spending time just chillaxing with me eating horrible ramen and waiting for my shoes to be fixed, for chatting over tea, for making time to have dinner and arranging a surprise birthday song. For just being my family :)

Thanks, Mei, for the lovely Mee Swah that you painstakingly prepared for me so late at night. It tastes great even though it's the first time you made it :)

My birthday dinner of Mudcrab & Caviar Ragotini..

..accompanied by Truffle Shoestring Fries..

..washed down with the golden Moscato. lovely~

To my dear relatives & friends: for the necklace and cake that you specially got for me, for calling and leaving me lovely messages on sms and FB, for remembering that it is my birthday.

Thanks for the lovely necklace, Lyn :)

Today has made me realize that my life is meaningful and is made rich and beautiful because of YOUR presence in it. The wealth of my life has got nothing to do with money or assets but everything to do with the fact that having YOU in my life makes me feel

B lessed
I mportant
R espected
T hought of
H appy
D etermined
A live
Y oung

and most importantly SAFE, LOVED and CONTENTED

Thank you for being part of my life for without YOU, my life will not be the same.

Mah-der tongue

2011-03-28T19:14:00.011+08:00

I am 100% Singaporean. Born and bred, raised and stamped. 'Nuf said. I understand Singlish perfectly well. But am still proud to say that I know when to use it and when to bite it back and not let it slip past my tongue.

So I have a boy, now 6. From the time he started speaking, he went to a playschool located in Orchard. It was close by for convenience of drop-off and I liked the fact that it had a good make up. There was a good mix of expatriates and locals. Hence, the young one was surrounded with friends who are Africans, Americans, Europeans, Koreans, Japanese, Taiwanese, Chinese, Spanish etc., as well as, Singaporean Chinese, Indians, Eurasians...

Although I cannot validate the correlation, I had also noticed that the command of English in the centre was also less localized. When I was playschool-hunting, I walked in to a centre in a more neighbourhood environment (mind you, it was also a very reputable nursery). It so happened that the centre was closed for some administrative updates and only the principal was around at that point of time. Nevertheless, she very kindly attended to me and orientated me to the facility.

During the short 20 minute orientation, I could not help but be disturbed by the fact that her English was peppered with lots of 'lahs' and 'lors'. Disregarding that, I bolted (well, at least mentally) when she started making grammatical errors in her sentence structure while having a conversation with me.

Don't be mistaken, I am no teacher and I certainly am not claiming high levels of English proficiency but God forbid an educator in early childhood be exposing our young offsprings to a lack of language foundation when they are picking it up.

Anyway, my son entered the school in Orchard. It was all good until they had to close down the centre because their lease ran out.

Out of sheer frustration at their lack of notice, I refused to be transferred to another branch, choosing instead to source for another school.

We settled on a kindergarten along Bukit Timah. This is again another reputable pre-school that typically has an endless waiting list. I was just so lucky to be able to get a spot at short notice.

It's been almost 3 months since my boy attended this school and of late, horrified little me has been noticing his improvement in Singlish.

Just moments ago, I overheard him saying to our helper, "But you are in my room mah." (Faint... actually, double faint!)

All those years of proper English exposure in school and at home has been dinged by a mere 3 months in school!!!

I have since resorted to the 'fine' Singaporean way of corrective method. He is to be fined $0.10 for every lah, lor, mah, meh or the likes that he uses in his conversations. I can't help it, I am also Singaporean mah... (ooops!)

Girlfriends, can't live without them

2011-03-25T22:28:00.009+08:00

When I was 8, my English teacher said this to me, "Michelle, you're such a tom boy."

Reflecting on my childhood and teen years, I realize that she was spot on. Looking at me, not many people will agree cos I spot long hair and I do wear dresses. I'm not particularly boyish in my behavior, androgynous perhaps but not manly. Details I will spare but suffice to say that I'm quite a dude trapped in a woman's body.

As a kid, I was sorely disappointed every birthday cos I was always getting gifts of dolls when all I wanted was a remote control car. My step-dad was the only person who indulged my fancy for cars. He would regularly take me to the petrol kiosk and buy me the match box cars after topping up fuel.

Other times, I would have to satisfy myself with watching the boys in my class play with their remote control cars after exam. They'd never offer me the chance to play cos I'm a girl and I was just too shy to ask.

As a teen, I've always clicked better with boys than with girls. Even though I was from an all girls' school. My closer buddies were always guys. I guess I like them for their straight-talking, don't-give-me-no-shit style of interaction. If they didn't like you, they'd say it to your face instead of pretending to be OK and then gathering forces behind your back to whiplash you from the dark.

I also cannot stand manja (read: whiny) people and girls in general, tend to display that trait more openly. On a lesser scale, it gives me goosebumps (not the nice kind) and on the higher annoyance scale, it makes me want to gorge out their eyes (ok maybe not so violent but you get the idea)

I still like my guy friends but as I get older, I am starting to appreciate my girlfriends more. Maybe it's because they are ever so patient when it comes to listening to the same problem over and over again. Or that they are that much more intuitive in sensing your downtimes without having to hang a placard over your neck to proclaim that you are having that time of the month, hence back off.

Yesterday, after ploughing the length and breadth of chinatown, tiong bahru etc. looking for chinese dance shoes, and failing to find it, I posted an update of FB asking if anyone knew where to get them, elusive shoes. And lo and behold, a whole bunch of girlfriends left me various threads to hunt them down. So, guess what? I found the shoes. Well, not exactly the chinese dance shoes i was looking for (lady in the shop told me even the chinese dance girls are no longer wearing them, guess production has ceased) but I did find some comfortable canvas ballet pumps.

Thank you girlfriends! You have made this girlfriend a happy girl :D

PS: In case you are looking for ballet pumps or dancing shoes, go to Costumes Connection. They're located at:

390 Victoria Street, #03-21
Golden Landmark (Landmark Village Hotel)
Singapore 188061

My happy dancing feet dressed in the black and red Canvas Ballet Pumps from Costume Connection. Got a pair of each of course ;)

Touched by an angel

2011-03-24T13:23:00.003+08:00

Today is just one of those days where nothing seemed to be going my way. After a tiring and long rehearsal last night and finally settling in bed at 2am, I woke at 8 to go for a seminar that I signed up for with I-Pac (it talks about investment methods/styles).

Anyways, hauled my ass bright and early off the bed and headed into Shenton (read: expensive parking and ERP) only to find out when I arrived that the organizers failed to update me with the actual location of the seminar.

My original email gave me the impression it was supposed to be at their office but it was instead held at the American Club.

So ANW, didn't manage to attend the seminar. OKAY, since I'm already in town, let's go look for the Chinese dance pumps I've been hunting for (does anyone know where the heck I can get those soft soled Chinese dance flats in Singapore? leave me a comment if you do ya?). Hence, headed to Chinatown, strutted the length and breadth of the shops there in my new 4 inch heels (argh... my feet's killing me as I type). Not only did I not find the shoes, I encountered a bitchy auntie, who pretty much told me to go shop somewhere else if I didn't like her collection and pricing (bitch right!?)

Took my sorry ass to wisma next hoping to stock up some new lingerie from Cotton On Body. The collection (or maybe it's my mood today) sucked. Tried asking my friend who works at Wisma out for lunch and yes, Murphy's Law, she was on MC.

Pfft...

Finally decided to just head home and change out of my heels. Had a stopover at the Esso petrol kiosk near my place to top up petrol. When I was done paying and walking back to my car, the silver lining happened. The pump attendant uncle was practically washing my car! LOL...

Long story short, my car was covered in mud the past 2 days due to the horrific weather and I just did not get around to having it washed. So i guess the uncle just couldn't take how grimy my car was and decided to scrub it down as best he could at the pump.

And so, my horrifically 'everything-that-can-go-wrong-will-go-wrong' day got turned around just like that. By the angel that came in the form of a pakcik :)

So there, don't let your days be ruined by the ugly. Just focus on the beautiful.

Of pain and pleasure

2011-03-24T00:25:00.003+08:00

OK. So that's a picture of a humongous bruise on my left thigh. So before you think I am a victim of abuse, let me clarify that the bruises are a pleasurable result of (now get your heads out of the gutter) pole dance.

Yep. I've been taking pole dance since early last year. Started with me watching news one night and they were talking about men in Beijing really catching on to the whole pole dancing thing and excelling in it cos of the advantage they have with better upper body strength. So no sleazy dimly lit club type of business going on there. Just pure sweat-breaking gymnastic work.

The next day, I read the same piece of news on the papers. And so it begins:

On MSN with my BFF
Me: babe, u wanna do pole dance not?
BFF: har? dun wan la (pause) r u serious?
Me: u know the men in BJ have been taking on that sport... blah blah blah...

To cut the long MSN conversation short, we signed up for the lessons at Groove Dance School that day and started our first lesson that very Sunday. And the rest, as they all say, is HISTORY. That was pole 1 and I am now at Pole 6. Spins, climbs, inverts, tricks... we've been going through the grind and come end April, I will be performing in one of the items for my schools' regular item called Groovy Nights together with other students and instructors.

The bruises you see, is the result of incessant practice at our rehearsal session, not to mention that 2 hours before rehearsal, I had my usual weekly pole class :S

So there.. painful but DEFINITELY pleasurable... sadistic. i know.. but it's not all pain and no gain. To look on the bright side, my arms are more sculpted now (yes, i was one of those unfortunate ones to be 'blessed' with fat arms, thanks to 'great' genes from my mom. still love u mummy!) and my behind looks just a tad perkier than it used to be :)

Ain't it great being a woman

2011-03-22T19:46:00.010+08:00

OVERHEARD

Character 1: young kindergarten boy
Character 2: mom of the boy

Boy: I love shoes you know
Mom: Ya me too
Boy: But I like boy shoes
Mom: I like boy shoes too. But I am luckier than you. I can wear boy shoes and I can also wear girl shoes
Boy: Not fair :(

It's great being a woman :D

~.~

I know I am a late bloomer but I have seriously only recently discovered the fun of wearing define lenses. So I tried one box out a few months ago and today, I splurged on 6 boxes from an optical shop in Tiong Bahru Plaza.

Bought these FreshLook Illuminate from Tiong Bahru Plaza

Do my peepers look Illuminated?

~.~

I am not Cantonese but I do love soups. Chinese soups to be exact. As a result of my love for soups, I am constantly on the quest for Chinese soup recipes so I can make authentic Chinese soups. Today, I woke up and felt a craving for my all time favourite - Lotus Root with Red Dates and Spare Ribs Soup.

Ingredients:
. Lotus root
. Red dates
. Spare pork ribs
. Wolfberries

Method:
. wash, peel and cut lotus root into 0.5 cm slices
. soak wolfberries in some water
. blanch pork ribs with hot water to remove excess fat/coagulated blood/smell
. all ingredients into pot and add 1.5litres hot water
. boil soup till it bubbles then turn to low heat to continue cooking for about 30 to 45 minutes (depends how thick you want your soup)
. add dash of salt and pepper to taste if you like (personally, i prefer no additives)
. when done, turn heat off and drain wolfberries from water before adding to soup
. soup is ready to serve

My home-made Lotus Root with Red Date and Spare Ribs Soup

Made Sweet and Sour Chicken to go with steamed rice, boiled Phuay Leng and of course the soup

E.S.B.I

2010-09-11T13:33:00.007+08:00

Some mind shifts happening lately and how interesting that I also chance upon this video during my research. Thought I'd share this. Not sure what it will do for you but it definitely gave me some clarity.

Andrea Bocelli @ Singapore Botanical Gardens

2010-05-15T10:32:00.021+08:00

As they say, better late than never. Not that my timely POSTing would make a difference to you since there is only ONE performance and if you are reading about my POSTing, you're too late for it anyway. Just to make you cry a little bit more, YTL's MD, Dr. Tan Sri Francis Yeoh alluded to the possibility that this may be Maestro Bocelli's last Asian concert. So bite me.

Moving on...

Internationally renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli sang to a large audience of over 10,000 people on 8 May 2010 at the Singapore Botanical Gardens. Amongst them were Singapore's President Nathan and the First Lady, as well as, Minister Mah Bow Tan and his Missus.

I could not resist getting a shot of this piece which was dedicated
to all the Mama's as a Mother's Day tribute piece

The wet weather did nothing to dampen the mood and the performance was, for the lack of a better description, AMAZINGLY CAPTIVATING.

Accompanied by Singapore's Philharmonic Orchestra and the Philharmonic Chamber Choir, fellow Italian, flutist, Andrea Griminelli (OMG I LURVE HIM), Slovenian soprano, Sabina Cvilak and Australian pop sensation, the beautiful Delta Goodrem made appearances and enchanted the enthusiastic crowd who just could not get enough of the whole performance.

Maestro Bocelli with Delta Goodman

Soprano, Sabina Cvalik
(photo courtesy of Lyn Wong)

Italian Flutist, Andrea Griminelli

As if that were not magnificent enough, the concert wrapped with a good 5 minutes worth of fireworks while the Philharmonic Orchestra played in the background (the TPO was very good but it's understandable that the fireworks stole the thunder)

The fireworks

True to it's DNA, YTL's community give back effort does not stray from it's motto. Serving the best on a silver platter.

With good music and performance, beautiful set ups and people (invitees included), palatable food (from the good people at TOAST) and thoughtful goodie packs (water, poncho, mozzie patches, mints, DVD of past YTL-driven performance), the event pleasured all our senses and more.

Two Thumbs Up!!

6 Jars to that elusive Financial Freedom

2010-05-11T11:43:00.002+08:00

I'm certain I am not the only person to have attended T Harv Eker's Millionaire Mindset seminars/workshops and so I shall not bore you with the details. This entry is really to get to the gist of the theory and also as a reminder to myself on how to do the financial management.

I am lifting this whole passage from Guest Blogger, Laura Poole on this blog so for the full blog, click here:

If you just need to kickstart, here's a quick guide:

For every dollar you earn after taxes, you sort it in the following six “jars” (or bank accounts), labeled as follows:

NEC (Necessary): 55% of each dollar. This is for all your fixed and necessary expenses: house payment or rent, car payments, utilities, necessary clothing and haircuts, gas, food, medical, and so on.

FFA (Financial Freedom Account): 10%. This is your nest egg. You never spend this, you only invest it, and keep it growing. Eventually, the goal is to have the nest egg large enough that you can pay for all your fixed expenses from the interest, thus creating your financial freedom.

LTSS (Long-Term Savings for Spending): 10%. This is your long-term savings for big-ticket items like new cars, fancy vacations, big TVs, or any large purchases coming up. You do spend this from time to time, not just hoard it.

EDU (Education): 10%. Always keep growing. Learn constantly. Invest in yourself and it will never be wasted. Educational opportunities can come near and far–from financial seminars to cooking classes to college degrees and sewing lessons!

PLAY: 10%. My favorite jar! The Play jar must be spent every month! Splurge–spend it on things you normally wouldn’t, like a dinner at a four-star restaurant or a spa treatment. At most, save it for 3 months before spending it on something fun.

GIVE (Charity): 5%. Always give back, and give time as well as money.

You can make adjustments to the percentages, such as taking your Necessary funds down to 35% of your income (if you’re able to cover your necessary expenses with that amount) and then redistributing the extra 20% to other funds. It takes discipline. You will definitely see results if you start with dollars in jars.

Shoot like a pro without the pro tools

2010-05-04T17:43:00.003+08:00

You like photography but you are not sure about investing in the expensive DSLRs. Well, here's your chance to get some tips from the professional. Join this workshop that's co-organized by Canon and MediaCorp.

On the 15th of May, next Saturday from 1.30pm to 4.30pm, MediaCorp together with Canon Singapore is organizing a Photography Seminar called “Power In Your Hands” . During the seminar, MediaCorp DJs Lim Peifen (YES933) and Rosalyn Lee (987FM), Celebrity Thomas Ong and Canon Photography Expert Mr Jino Lee will be there to share their experiences and tips on how to take better pictures.

You will also stand a chance to win a $500 Travel voucher with Dynasty Travel. If you are interested drop an email to: radiopromo@mediacorp.com.sg for a chance to attend this workshop.

Maybe I will see you there ;)

Monkey See Monkey Do? So does your kid.

2010-04-19T09:57:00.003+08:00

I wanna start off by thanking my friend, Val, who shared this TVC on FB. Bright and early, this message hits home like it hits the wind outta your stomach. Are we all not guilty at some level, if not to the intensity, of what is reflected here?

There's this on-going debate about nature vs nurture. This TVC drives home the message of the power of nurture.

So think, the next time you do something in the presence of your child. But more importantly, think about what kind of a person you are and whether you are somebody your kid will be proud of.

Coincidences leads to rediscovery

2010-04-13T11:12:00.003+08:00

I know the title sounds really 'cheem' (has depth) but don't take this posting too seriously. Was chatting with a gal pal who's in the Taiwan entertainment industry and there we were rambling about when our discussion turned to the recent spate of industry rumours about Vaness Wu's Singaporean gf, Arissa Cheo. (hmmm... i tot he'd taken a vow of celibacy? so i guess no notti goings-on while dating eh?) Anyway, out of nosey-ness, I followed the news and learnt that she was in one of his MVs. So i searched the video and found this:

But the awesomest thing was i was seriously intrigued by the art direction and dance moves of the MV rather than looking out for Arissa's cameo in it. So much so that i forgot my initial trigger of the MV and had to re-watch it to find her all over again (in case u reaaaaally wanna know, u can barely see her face in it. cleverly shadowed to protect her identity i guess. u do get a fairly clear view of her ear studs haaa...)

While i was at it, i also found uber cool, love of my life r&b goddess, Coco Lee's MV with Vaness. Can't embed due to restrictions from her official channel so click here to go see it on YouTube.

Share the links of anything else you find about Arissa Cheo with me ya? I'm getting fascinated with this pretty Singapore lass LOL..

A calm Tempest

2010-04-05T17:03:00.009+08:00

As mentioned in my previous post, i was at the press con of The Tempest on 31 March at The Swiss Hotel, Singapore. Anyway, went to watch The Tempest at Esplanade Theatre on 3rd April.

I thought hard. Really hard about how I was going to discuss the experience watching this play. The most straightforward thing you will probably ask me is, "Did you enjoy it?" The simple answer. "Yes"

Why then the difficulty in trying to write this piece? Well, first of all, I din want anyone reading this thinking, "Ya, well, you wanna look arty farty, like you appreciate the sophistication of the literary world, that's why you have to say you enjoyed it." In fact, i am telling the truth. OK, I was not blown away but you know what? I did enjoy the play.

OK, digress to the time when i got the tickets and was trying to find someone to go with me. My usual date for such plays was busy with pre-Easter religious commitments (who am i to fight with the Almighty one :P) and was hence unable to attend the play with moi. So i started going through my mind's list of who I should be asking to the play. Whilst i can go alone, and mind you, i am not someone who needs constant companionship, i did want to have someone to ask for his/her input.

Asked one of my theatre pals to go but he was going to the Friday show so he was out. At the same time, i din wanna just ask anyone. Not that i snoot at the 'non-artistic beings'. Nooo... I am less artsy than you can imagine (if you were imagining me to be a literary queen) It's just that I want the person to at least have a shot at enjoying the play too.

You understand my concern through this excerpt of a typical conversation when i try to ask someone to watch this play with me..
me: eh u free sat nite to watch The Tempest with me?
potential date: har? waddat?
me: ehem... Shakespeare play la.. never hear before meh? The bridge project la. SRT co-commissioned the project blah blah.....
potential date: er.... never hear.. but Shakespeare very cheem (translation: deep/difficult to understand) leh. later i go there sleep how?
me: so u wanna go or not?
and i move on to the next potential date a few more times...

Well, in the end, I asked a girlfriend who's known to appreciate things beyond just popular culture (and i reiterate that i mean no snootiness in this comment).

Fast forward to the play, 10 mins into the play, i caught my date yawning from the corner of my right eye. "Bad news... i thought to myself. It's only 10 mins.. there's another 2 hours to go. How's she gonna last."

But before i knew it, i was too absorbed by whatever was going on onstage to actually worry about my date (sorry babe..)

I remembered Thomas Sadoski's comment about Sam Mendes taking a well balanced approach between literary and visual artistic perspectives in his direction for this play and I tried to find that. To be honest, I did not. The sets were simple and the style of dialogue was kept true to its originator.

But therein lies the beauty of this play. It sucks you in with it's beautifully crafted dialogue, wherein lies the puns and witticism of William Shakespeare. On the flipside, therein lies the pain of being able to appreciate this play. If you go in without the slightest hint of an idea what the play is about, you're in for trouble... or sleepy stupor (like my date haa..).

The thing about The Tempest is that there is just tooooooooo many characters involved. So following the play without prior introduction to the literature is quite a challenge. Also, the play is very heavy on dialogue and not so much of physical representation. Hence, if you are challenged with accents, you may also find it difficult to follow and understand what is going on. Most of the times, the characters were running around a single circular sandy canvas (that's the island).

However, if you've had a pre-empt on the gist of the piece, you will be able to appreciate the simplicity of the set. Honestly, the story is set on the island. How complicated do you want the set to be? If every piece of rock was detailed, it leaves nothing to the imagination.

That is essentially the beauty that theatre can choose to deliver, compared to movies. In a movie, nothing is left to the imagination because it is meant to be a visual stimulant. Theatre on the other hand can choose to be that bridge from text to action. It allows room for your imagination to roam where theatrics chooses to leave it out.

Anyway, back to The Tempest, my suggestion to you, my dear friend, if you are planning on catching it while it runs at Esplanade Theatre, is to do yourself and Sam Mendes a favor. At least get a copy of the program and read it before the play begins.

My fav bits...

when Stepheno enters and stumbles upon a queer 'monster'.
when Trinculo, Stepheno and Caliban got into a drunken song and dance together.
the wedding celebration of Ferdinand and Miranda

My date's fav bits (yes she did have some)...

the dance routine at the wedding of Ferdinand and Miranda
the music

Disappointments...

Lack of theatrics for the storm that brought the characters to the setting.
With the traveling crew, I was honestly hoping for more visually spectacular costumes.
I was expecting the sorcery of Prospero to be played out but sadly, it was almost non-existent.

But well, as said very well by Ron Cephas Jones at the press con, everyone has their own theme and interpretation of what The Tempest is. I guess I was expecting a thunderstorm whereas Sam Mendes sought to represent it in tranquility. So tell me what your theme is after you watch it!

The Tempest runs in Singapore's Esplanade Theatre from 2nd to 10th April. Tickets start at $55 and can be purchased at SISTIC.

The Bridge Project - The Tempest (Press Conference in Singapore)

2010-03-31T20:02:00.020+08:00

Stephen Dillane, Thomas Sadoski, Ron Cephas Jones, Juliet Rylance, Christian Camargo

As i sat down to the start of the press conference in Singapore's Swiss Hotel, for The Tempest, a fellow reporter/friend, asked me how i would write about this. He was concerned that our take on the project will trivialize Shakespeare's literally work and not do it justice. i think his feelings resonate with a lot of us laymen out there. i was a literature student and did my fair reads of Shakespeare's more popular work but i certainly dare not proclaim myself to be the arty farty Shakespearean-spouting being.

However, i surprised myself with my answer to him. That you know what? Many ordinary folks like ourselves will probably appreciate a very simple perspective of this press conference and show.

So here, with this in mind, i present to you as SeenByIceQueen, the press conference of The Tempest, the second edition of The Bridge Project presented by The Singapore Repertory Theatre.

Cast members
(who attended the Press Con)

Stephen Dillane
Role: Jaques/Prospero
How else you may know him: Film 44" Chest and in Nine Lives alongside Holly Hunter
Anecdote from the presscon: He showed up a little later than the rest of the cast, unkemptly put together in a long sleeved shirt and bermudas, face full of overgrown beard. sat poker faced throughout the press conference without as much as a twitch and barely spoke except in direct reply to questions directed at him. quiet men like these intrigue me and makes me wonder if he might just be media-shy or simply cannot be bothered.

Ron Cephas Jones
Role: Charles the Wrestler/Caliban
How else you may know him: TV Shows Law and Order and NYPD Blue
Anecdote from the presscon: Appearing almost stern initially, Ron warmed up the moment the project was being discussed for it's literally and technical engagements. Suggests a media-cynic who wants to stay true to his craft. This actor is also extremely appreciatetive of his co-workers, lauding all behind-the-scene crew in contributing to the success of this project. I'm sure he's a lot more popular with his colleagues than with the media.

Thomas Sadoski
Role: Touchstone/Stephano
How else you may know him: TV Shows Ugly Betty and Law and Order (SVU)
Anecdote from the presscon: Between him and Christian Camargo, they talked 50% of the time during the press conference. Bubbly due to youth (he's only 34) or wanting to be a media baby, it doesn't matter but he certainly brought much laughter to the otherwise serious press conference.

Christian Camargo
Role: Orlando/Ariel
How else you may know him: TV Shows Ugly Betty and Law and Order (SVU)
Anecdote from the presscon: There with his wife, Juliet Rylance, he was pretty much the life and comedy of the press conference with many a wise-cracks. When asked how it was working with his wife on the same project, he playfully groused, "We're with each other ALL the time... which is really great!" and then handed the baton to Juliet with a cheeky, "Darling, your turn." Aww.. Do I hear hearts melting now?

Juliet Rylance
Role: Rosalind/Miranda
How else you may know her: More accomplished in theatre than in films, she's been in several other Shakespear plays like The Winter's Tale and Romeo and Juliet
Anecdote from the presscon: The only of the female cast that appeared at the press con, this British lass exude an easy natural beauty that shouts Hollywood sweetheart. It's nice to know that there's a serious and dedicated actor in a pretty package like that.

Quotes from the press con and some reasons why you should be catching The Tempest as directed by Sam Mendes:

"Film is a visual art and theatre is a literary art... Sam Mendes is able to sit in the middle..." - Thomas Sadoski
"Sam Mendes directs in a very physical style... he is physically abusive... a psychological terror.. but he's just a nice guy to hang around." - jokes Thomas Sadoski when asked his opinion on Sam Mendes.
"... we had one moment..." - Christian Camargo when quizzed on working with real life wife, Juliet Rylance, on the set of The Tempest
"Travelling with Shakespeare... different archetypes and many different angles." - Juliet Rylance discusses the dynamics of performing the same play in different cities.

Whether or not we appreciate it, we know the literally value and engagement that will come forth with a Shakespearean play. But what else will I look out for in the play if I were you?

magic and sorcery (the fascinating theme of which The Tempest is initiated by, in my humble opinion)
costumes, make up, effects (after all, the crew tours with the actors, don't you want to know what is so special about them?)
the accents (this production is committed to having an equal share of American and British actors, put yourself to the test and see if you are able to identify who's from where)

And that's all folks, I leave you with the trailer and ticketing details. Let me know your thoughts if you catch the play!

Trailer for The Tempest

Ticket booking and details can be found here >>

Highlight my snot

2010-03-31T14:18:00.004+08:00

If you grew up with me, you will know and understand my obsession with the gross and gruesome. But lest i bore you with the history of my life growing up, i shall, instead, indulge in my random ramblings on my much neglected blog.

So dear peeps, bear with me while this post discusses my snot. The story goes that poor me here is down with a cold and, as such, has a nose that is adamant about doing it's marathon. Anyhow, problematic lil me was also due for an eye checkup with my opthalmologist.

Those of you who've been to such eye checkups will know that they probe your eyeballs to death. Before such probing, they do the merciful thing of dripping an anesthetic solution into your eye so that the eye does not cringe in pain at the probing. This dye is yellow in color so for moments after that, your world is a hue of tungsten.

For those of you who never took biology, you may be interested to know that our eyes, nose, ears and mouth passages are interlinked. And before you start wondering why I keep digressing, let me show u a pic of my.. erm.. snot..

Does this look like a leaking highlighter or what??? Well, i'll have you know that it was my snot with the yellow dye. OK all together now. eeewwwwW! There really isn't more point to this post than to highlight (no pun intended) my highlighted snot :)

one MM sMILE

2010-01-26T17:34:00.006+08:00

go ahead, club me on my head. i know i deserve it for not having updated my blog in eons... :S

ANYWAY! i wanna talk about something that hits home to me on a personal level. TEETH. yep, teeth.

i dunno if u belong to the same era but as a kid, i used to dread going to the dentist. to me, they were horrifying tormentors who were there to cause pain and pretty much nothing else. i used to break into cold sweat as i dreaded the wait to be hauled onto the dentist chair at the polyclinic by some dental officer (DO). of course, back then, i din know they were DOs, but STILL.. u get the point of my dread.

fast forward some decades (i'm not telling u how many) and i was introduced to this couple of nice gentlemen one bright, sunny saturday afternoon. lo and behold, they were, once upon a time, DOs. now, they are more than experienced dentists with their own established practice (Orchard Scotts Dental) and also coaching other DOs-to-be (note to Dr. Yap and Dr. Lim: pls tell your students to be nice and gentle to their 'guinea pigs')

to make a leap in my subject matter, lest i ramble on about my therapy-worthy experience in the hands of scary DOs, the world of dentistry as introduced to me that fateful saturday afternoon went beyond decayed teeth and brushing techniques.

This video proves my point

dentistry has gone beyond just treating the mouth and the teeth. the aesthetics aspect of dentistry has grown by leaps and bounds. before u poof the idea that it has taken a serious subject and trivialized it, just think about a beautiful girl with bad teeth. would u still find her attractive? and more importantly, would she still have the confidence?

a smile is the very basis of opening up interaction between 2 people without the exchange of words. an attractive smile is the very armour of deciding if that very communication would indeed happen.

that sunny saturday afternoon, as i was wolfing down their tomato and cheese tasters, Orchard Scotts Dental showed me the range of possibilities that aesthetic dentistry of today can bring to you and me. and trust me, it goes beyond what we know (orthodontics - braces for you layman out there) and stretched to the world of invisalign, veneers etc.

to reiterate what i am talking about, look at what 1mm of a difference to Blogger, Jenny's set of teeth can make to her sMILE.

Before | After

All this thanks to the team at Orchard Scotts Dental :)

now... what should i do with my teeth..

intermission

2009-10-13T10:23:00.003+08:00

it's been quite some time since i updated anything on this blog. it's really not so much a case of nothing happening. rather, there's so much going on with so little time.

i used to scorn at people who say that they're too busy. to me, it was always about how you prioritize. and that still holds true. but now, i can empathize.

anyway, i won't be updating anything interesting in this particular blog entry. it's more as an akan datang.

look out for a few things coming up:

Duck n Dive: I'm taking my son to watch that in November and we're involved in a meet and greet session so will talk about that after.

Victor/Victoria: that is pending if Zebra invites me to their media night.

towards the end of the year, we're also looking at many celebratory parties and events so we'll see what happens then.

till then, i'm just trying to keep breathing ;)

Can this tech lust last?

2009-09-01T10:05:00.007+08:00

For a girl, I'm a real gadget slave. Every time some new gadget (in the form on mobile phones or mobile media device, mobile gaming device is launched, I am struck by an impulse to run to the nearest retailer to grab it off the racks.

Unfortunately, this impulse has also been the result of painful lessons. Lessons that I should just hold my horses and not make a move until the 'lemons' are filtered off the first batch stocks and kinks are ironed out.

Many a times, I've had to go back to the service centres to get 'patches' for the softwares/firmwares of my devices in order for it to operate somewhat normally. The process is like having all these sexual fantasies for someone and hooking up for the first time only to realize that the someone needs viagra.. sigh.. anti-climax.

Anyways, my latest lust is the Nokia 5730. I particularly fancy the marriage between a 'smart' and 'fun' phone, as well as, the co-existence of a candybar phone dialpad with a slideout qwerty keypad.

Candy Bar

VS

Slideout QWERTY

I am someone who is hopeless at typing out sentences on a regular alpha-numeric keypad (no, i don't belong to the generation with an enlarged thumb). Plus, i use my phone massively as an organizer, hence, notes are taken on the phone all the time and i appreciate the speed in which i can achieve with a qwerty keypad.

I also dream about having the whole media player on my phone (the 5730 boasts a stereo audio quality and plugs direct to screen with a 3.5mm jack) so I can watch all these videos and enjoy my music on the go. How I go about getting the content I have yet to figure out but that is another story for another blog entry.

This time though, I want to hold out to make sure that this special someone really is THE one. So everytime I see a 5730 ad or phone on display, I wring my hands together like an OCD anonymous and try not to cave in to my lust. Hopefully, this lust can last..

And if you've been involved with the 5730, do kiss and tell.

The Parents Who Say 'Shoo'

2009-08-03T10:15:00.012+08:00

As mentioned previously, I was looking forward to taking my 4-year-old to SRT's The Little Company play - The Boy Who Cried Wolf.

The program had a tear sheet that folds into a sheep's ear

Some things I expected, some I didn't.

First, let's talk about what I DID expect. My scaredy-cat boy, who is taller and bigger than most kids his age, started to freak out the moment we went to pick up our tickets from the box office. It appears his little mind is already retaining more than I give him credit for. He apparently remembers The Tooth Fairy incident and is shuddering at another 'real-life' experience with the performers.

Anyhow, when I tugged and pulled him into the theatre at DBS Arts Centre, he started doing his Ninja thing where he ducked and ran semi-squat through the rows of seats so that he's camouflaged amongst the chairs, until we finally reached our allocated seats.

When we reached our seats, he proceeded to sit me down urgently in my seat before clambering onto my lap and grabbing my arms to encapsulate him within me. I could hardly breathe as he made sure my arms were tightly wrapped around him. He also quickly removed his beloved Ben 10 watch and made me keep it in my handbag's (which was taking the seat he refused to be on) secret zipped compartment so the "Big Bad Wolf would not take it, Mummy!"

The simple but cute set with the sheeps, castle and Jack's giant beanstalk

We waited in trepidation for the play to begin and my trembling todd surveyed the set and evaluated if he ought to make a dash for the exit.

Enters the Big Bad Wolf played by Filomar C. Tariao who is no where as scarily styled as the witch from The Tooth Fairy. Truth be told, he looked a little comical with his fluffy long tail and stylish boots. But his sheer presence and our proximity to the stage was enough to hold my son ransom to the intangible fear.

Despite the gripping fear, he responded to the Wolf's requests to sing "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf" and to practice screaming at the sight of the wolf. This is with credits to Filomar who engaged the kids in the audience with his song and dance sequence. Filomar who is obviously a trained dancer did jazzy numbers and ballet steps that had both kids and adults entertained and entranced. It also helps that he has good comic timing and wit and was able to poke fun at the adults while ensuring that the kids understood his jokes.

One good example was when Wolf was looking to eat a sheep in the audience and when a kid pointed at his dad, volunteering him as an offering, Wolf proclaimed that the sheep was a little too old, causing the kids to break out in guffaws (OK, so did the adults but we were trying to be more discreet about laughing at the poor guy).

Back to the point of the play. Petey, played by Tim Garner, and his Father, played by Darius Tan sets the storyline of Petey being asked to watch the sheeps while his daddy (a wood-cutter) goes away to work on a project in the castle to earn more money for the family (and with hopes of climbing the "corporate ladder" to become the Royal Wood-Cutter).

As we all know, Petey proceeds to cry wolf (although they did improvise to make it Cry Giant the first time and Cry Dragon the second) which resulted in his dad not believing him the third time when he cried Wolf for real.

I was also expecting appropriate points to make reference of these lying examples to my todd about not telling lies. What I was NOT expecting was a hidden lesson in there for parents too.

Watching the play, I discovered that the moral of the story was not just about telling the kids that lying is a bad thing. It also hinted to parents that there are some underlying triggers that may make kids lie.

Petey lied to his dad to get his attention because dad was "always busy working" and "never kept his promise" to spend time with Petey.

So to parents of kids who cry wolf, before you tell them 'shoo' the next time because "Mummy is busy", remember how many times you have broken that promise (that counts as lying too, no?) and told your kid, "I promise I will take you to a picnic next week. Promise!"

Ratings:

$ing Dollar - I want my dollar back to buy Dim Sum

2009-07-27T11:38:00.007+08:00

I love Selena Tan, Pam Oei and Emma Yong. I also love Hossan Leong, Sebastian Tan, Kumar and Najip Ali. I even love Lim Kay Siu. But I am so so sad. So sad that I had spent my dollar, no, make that dollar$$, on something that I had to force myself to laugh at.

Sigh. I don't usually trash the acts I've watched but this time, I just feel like I had walked into a MUSICAL COMEDY and walked out dissatisfied with both the musical and the comedy elements.

Have you ever seen a person who has great features when you looked at each feature separately, but when you put the features together, the person simply looks.. plain?

Well, this is the equivalent of it.

When you rip the production apart, I find many redeeming factors:

The cast was made up of really talented and famous actors who can sing, dance, act and overall, entertain.
The set was beautifully done. Each piece of stage decor, costume and prop had alot of heart and detail in it.
The songs were wonderfully written. The lyrics are funny and punchy, the melodies were catchy and matching.
The story and jokes were current and meaningful. When you talk about money issues and the tussle that happens around it, what's not to make for good comedy material right?

Well, if everything seem to be the right ingredient, what went wrong? I can't quite put my finger to it but simply feel that I was not entertained. I feel like most times, I was laughing at very cliche jokes and laughing simply because they were appropriate laugh moments (like when you attend talkshows and they flash applause on the screen to make the audience clap at the right moments).

It was not to say that $ing Dollar was not funny or that it was bad. But perhaps, the problem lies in the fact that it was trying too HARD to make it funny while exploring very real issues and emotions. And also because Selena was trying really hard to match up to Dim Sum Dollies' success. Afterall, this is the production that is filling the gap before the next one, after 6 consecutive years of Dim Sum Dollies.

My notes to you if you are watching $ing Dollar:
You can sleep when:

Najip Ali's character of Sa'adiah starts 'her' heartwrenching piece on being torn between morals and material.
Sebastian Tan's character of Valentina Siong Soon Huat talks about anything in general.
The entire cast get together to discuss what to do with their windfall

Slap whoever is dozing off beside you when:

The various currencies (British Pound, US Dollar, Indian Rupee, Singapore Dollar) came to life
The boys (Hossan, Kumar, Najip, Sebastian and Kay Siew) do their Michael Jackson thingie in their roles as the infamous people (don't wanna spoil your fun by letting on too much)
The scene with the merlions (especially if you've been a loyal follower of Dim Sum Dollies)
Whenever Kumar is in his Syed, the Bangladesh character.

Although I feel like my money could have been better spent buying Dim Sum then on this production, loyalty deems me illogical and I simply would not have forgiven myself if I missed any production written by Selena.

Just a friendly note to Selena and Zahim, you may want to throw in a few kids to give you a bluntly honest opinion of how funny the acts are when you're doing the scripts and rehearsals.

Rating:

Be OCEAN MINDED

2009-06-26T12:34:00.005+08:00

Some of you may remember this plucky Hawaiian lass who was attacked by a great white while surfing and at the tender age of 13, lost her left arm. What made her a revelation is that instead of developing a phobia and swearing off the sport for life (I know I would have!), she returned to hit the waves merely a month after.

Bethany Hamilton

This girl I'm talking about is Bethany Hamilton, AKA, brand ambassador for the new to Singapore brand, OCEAN MINDED. Last heard at the Press Launch of OCEAN MINDED on 25 June 2009 @ Vista Bistro, Playground @ Big Splash, a movie's being made about her story. Here's a little background to her story if you've not yet heard of her (where have you been man?)

Back to the subject of OCEAN MINDED. OCEAN MINDED seeks not only to bring comfortable and fashionable footwear, and subsequently apparels to Singapore. It also wants to inculcate being responsible to Mother Nature and Brother Earth. This goes beyond just using materials that are environmentally friendly, e.g. materials made from recycled plastic, water-based glue that will not harm the oceans etc. OCEAN MINDED also seeks to develop their customers into environmentally responsible people by organizing green activities e.g. beach clean ups.

Their efforts thus far may have gone relatively un-noticed to us busy city-buzzers but it is slowly and surely gaining foothold (no pun intended).

Sole of Meilani

With its first concept store launched late last year at Vivo City, it has started a trail of flowery prints to a series of store tie-ups and more coming up this year. Look out for the big wave from OCEAN MINDED that is sure to hit you.

For Her: Meilani

For Him: Durbo

OCEAN MINDED's Brand Attributes

Environmentally Conscious
Quality, Fit and Comfort
Natural and Sustainable Materials
"LIVE" the ocean lifestyle, "PROTECT" our environment and "RESPECT" life!

OCEAN MINDED will be launching their products at Isetan Tampines Mall come 4th July 2009. Meanwhile, go grab a pair of OCEAN MINDED footwear at the following outlets:

Ocean Minded Concept Store (Vivo City #02-62)
IMM Mall
Queensway Mall
CHECK Stores (AMK Hub, Heeren & Westcoast Plaza)
OG Orchard

2009 Autobacs Super GT Round 4 Super GT International Series Malaysia

2009-06-24T12:42:00.003+08:00

The Thunder Asia Mosler Racing Team, featuring Singapore's own Melvin Choo, and Martin Short who was co-driving the Mosler MT900R, had an eventful weekend at the Super GT Round 4, held in Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia from June 19th to 21st, 2009. The debut of the team at the Round 4 race finished at a respectable 13th position despite mechanical failures due to the heat.

Prior to the big race, I had the honor of a private tete-a-tete with Melvin Choo, checking out the machine itself and also meeting the Race Queens, Nana-chan and Yu-king.

Here's the 1-on-1 with Melvin Choo:

The Race Queens say their Hellos to Singapore:

And I got to pick up some trivial while chatting with Melvin as well. Did you know that...

There is no air conditioning in the race cars
Despite the thick race suits that these race car drivers have to don for the race, there is no airconditioning in the race cars because air-con sucks too much energy from the automobil and adds unnecessary weight to the machine.

Race car drivers lose weight and height after each race.
Due to the intense heat in these speed machine, race car drivers lose alot of water after each race, hence contributing to the weight loss.

Being strapped down so tightly in their seats causes spine compression that result in height loss of up to a couple of inches after each race. Thankfully, the spine resumes it's 'suspension' and the height loss is only temporary.

Anyways, I do hope to be able to be at one of these races some day. Maybe I can go hang out with the boys when they practice as well. Sponsorship anyone? :)

Monsters VS Aliens - review

2009-06-08T14:58:00.014+08:00

It was a mad rush to get from the Changi Airport (i left at 1023am) to Vivo City's Golden Village to catch the 1045am Monsters VS Aliens. In tow was my 4 year old son who was arguing throughout the whole journey about the fact that I did not keep my promise to let him take the Skytrain. Hello, mommy had like 22 min to travel multiple kilometres and she's not driving a jet plane! Grr...

Anyways, we got to the ticketing counter a few minutes shy of 11am, with bursting bladders (him and mine) and a promise (to pacify sonny from breaking the skytrain promise) that I'd get him popcorn for the movie.

These are the few moments in my life I'm grateful that there is a culture of late startings for movies in theatres that runs tons of movie advertisements.

We got into the theatre past 11am, after clearing our bladders and buying popcorn, and we managed a catch a few more trailers before the movie began.

Let's start with a run down of the characters. Well, there are the MONSTERS:

Ginormica: This is a regular lass who got "zapped by a meteorite" in her own words, on her wedding day and grew to become a giant lass. The substance, we found out later, that she got "zapped" with was Quantonium.

Dr. Cockroach: One mad British scientist who's extreme experiment went awry and he turned himself into a cockroach in the process. The good news - he's now indestructable like a roach. Bad news - he's stuck with ugly looks and unappetizing food choices (this dude eats garbage)

The Missing Link: Some sea creature that is an Ape-Fish with bulging muscles and water-skills only a fish can manage.

BOB: essentially a blob of goo, he was created brainless (LOL) when fused between gelatin and tomato or something.

Insectosaurus: A gigantic bug that is in my opinion, rather adorable. What with huge innocent eyes and soft rounded bug teeth, how can anyone think he's scary?

And there's.. effectively only one ALIEN that went and clone himself into multitudes:

Gallaxhar: This octopus looking dude with an ape-ish face and an over-sized brain-cap is the ultimate bad guy who wants to conquer the universe or something.

So the gist of the story went that these Monsters were gathered by an intelligence in the US force and was volunteered for services in the form of fighting Alien forces that had invaded planet Earth in a bid to retrieve Quantonium - an ultimate source of power.

The ordinary life of Ginormica (before she became a giant, she was about to marry the love of her life, a weatherman on some news channel) got turned topsy turvy and she discovers her incredible strength and ability to save the earth, literally.

Caught and jailed in some unidentified underground facility along with fellow Monsters, they only found freedom when the US President got them to fight the alien force of Gallaxhar.

Amidst the fighting, the movie was interjected with messages of friendship being the ultimate driving force for incredible power, selfish love, female power etc.

Packed with lots of action, my four-year-old jumped on his seats at unexpected loud sounding attacks and gobbled the popcorn with an intensity of a food eating competitor.

For an animation movie, launched during the school hols (so assumingly targeting kids), Monsters VS Aliens had lines and themes that were too complex for a young child's understanding. Hence alot of the humour was lost. However, I'd recommend it for a family bonding time since kiddo will probably enjoy the animatedness and the lines should keep the parents entertained enough not to doze off mid-movie.

My favourite part: when Ginormica AKA Susan Murphy picked ex-fiance up at the end of the movie and flicked him off while LIVE on camera. (Watch the movie to find out why she did that)

My son's favourite part: when Ginormica put on 2 cars and skated around the streets.

Rating:

The Boy Who Cried Wolf - Timely parenting help

2009-05-19T17:21:00.008+08:00

I am a first time parent. And I believe as is the case with most first time parents, much of what I put into my parenting manual is either from advice given by well-intending people or by gut feel. Being the stubborn and opinionated person that I am, it is often the latter.

One of my major challenges recently has been getting my four-year old to NOT LIE. I started by trying to reason. And when that failed to work, I resorted to... lying.. I've thus far told him that if he lied, his teeth would all come off.. I don't think he cares much about his teeth though.. since this tactic doesn't seem to be working. o_O'"

Yes, yes.. I know I'm not setting a good example. But honestly, when you are a FT working mum like me, getting things done efficiently is of optimum importance. That, is not to say that what I am doing is right. But honestly, I am at my wits end.

This is why I am utterly grateful to SRT's timely (well, at least in my opinion and to me, that means EVERYTHING) release of a play about THE BOY WHO CRIED WOLF. Most of us would know the moral of the story. So to this play, I am going for sure. I'll probably try to buy a storybook on PINOCCHIO as well in the meantime..

Singapore Repertory Theatre’s The Little Company
proudly presents

Written by Jean Tay based on the fairy tale by Aesop
Directed by Tracie Pang

Little Petey is bored, bored, bored. It is really not much fun to sit on a little rock, on a little hill, watching a little flock of sheep all day long. So little Petey decides to hatch the perfect plan to have some fun and scare the socks off his fellow villagers. But little does poor Petey know that a very tiny lie can lead to a whole lot of trouble...

The Boy Who Cried Wolf is a wonderful new production from The Little Company. Based on the classic fairy tale by Aesop, you will be delighted by how it is brought to life by an exciting script and a professional cast of adult actors.

This play is a heart-warming illustration of why it’s important to tell the truth, and how one lie can make a world of difference.
Dramatised by award-winning playwright Jean Tay who is best known for her plays Everything But The Brain (ST Life! Theatre Awards winner for Best Original Script 2006) and Boom.

Directed by Tracie Pang (ST Life! Theatre Award nominee for Best Director in 2007 and 2008) who has directed numerous productions for The Little Company.

This comic twist to a classic tale brings home a familiar lesson in a fun and accessible way.
Recommended for 2 – 6 year-olds

* * *

DATES: 30th July to 12th September 2009 – please see SISTIC for performance schedule
PRICES: Mon-Fri $18 – Weekends $20 excluding SISTIC fee (Group discounts/Family Packages available)
VENUE: DBS Arts Centre – Home of SRT
TICKETING: SISTIC at 6348 5555 or www.sistic.com.sg/www.srt.com.sg

Be FAB don't FAG

2009-05-05T16:42:00.005+08:00

Here's something a little out of the ordinary for you folks. Health Promotion Board (HPB) tied up with Fashion Creative Director, Marie Ng to bring 2 fashion events to you (by the time you read this, one will be over but you can still trot to the next one).

What's Chill?
All hosts and models in this show are subscribing to the You don't have to smoke to be cool mantra. A real breath of fresh air considering the fashion industry has always depicted cigarette chomping cigarette thin models (not that being cigarette thin has anything to do with cigarette chomping) so having these glamour puss tell you how to look FAB without that FAG is one sure way to tell you they mean business.

The Thrill
There's this signature piece at the event to look out for. Inspired by event host/HPB ambassador for anti-smoking, Evelyn Maria Ng and designed by Kahlee, this dress is half white and half black. The half white is the depiction of clean, wholesome, health of a non-smoker wheras the other black half portrays dark, gloomy, dirty and unhealthy image of a smoker.

If you missed the last show held at Heeren on 2 May, make your way down to the next one on 23 May 2009, 6pm at Tampines Mall. Last I heard, they're giving out goodie bags with FAB vouchers too!

Just promise to LIVE IT UP WITHOUT LIGHTING UP ;)

Marie Ng - Creative Director

Hosts - Paul Foster and Evelyn Maria Ng

Slow Dance

2009-05-05T10:48:00.004+08:00

As a general guideline, I don't blog about personal stuff on this blog. I also try not to blog about depressing issues unless it is for a cause. I mean, seriously, who needs more gloom amidst the doom we're facing with the Swine Flu and Financial Crisis right?

However, this poem I received in my personal mailbox touched me in a very personal way. For all you cynics out there, it is irrelevant whether this is real or not. The key is in the message here.

To make you see where I'm coming from, I'll let you know that amidst the glitz and glamour that revolves around my daily work life, I am facing a very painful situation back at home. My grandmother had a bad fall 2 months ago and has been bedbound and deteriorating day by day while my mother was diagnosed with Lung Cancer some time back. These 2 people who are extremely dear to me have been fighting every single day of their lives eversince, just to keep themselves alive.. something that most of us have been taking for granted every breath we take..

So maybe, it is time to do a stockcheck on your lives and engage in a Slow Dance

* * *
* * *

This is a poem written by a teenager with cancer,
a terminally ill young girl in a New York Hospital ...

SLOW DANCE
Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short..
The music won't last.
Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,'Hi'
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
When you run so fast
to get somewhere
You miss half the fun
of getting there.
When you worry
and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift.....
Thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

* * *

This young girl had 6 months left to live,
and as her dying wish, she wanted to send a letter telling everyone to
live their life to the fullest, since she never will.

She'll never make it to prom, graduate from high school,
or get married and have a family of her own.

* * *
* * *

The CROCS cult

2009-04-23T17:16:00.005+08:00

In my humble opinion, CROCS footwear was a cult by itself. There're die-hard fans who swear by it. And then, there are others...

The truth is, for the longest time, CROCS has been associated with clunky, brightly-colored, 'acquired taste' kinda footwear (OK, so some may even think it's OOGLIE..)

As for yours truly, I do not dispel the fact that it is ideal fashion for some (let's just say i thought CROCS should be limited to the age of 5 and below) but attending the Launch of CROCS Spring/Summer 2009 Collection last night truly blew me away.

HAVANA

I was presented a tray, yes, a tray.. of CROCS footwear by a hunky guy (that helped..) to choose from for a TRY OUT. I decided to pick out a gray pair of HAVANA to match my attire of the evening (short denim skirt + black vest. Read: Casual sexy) and was I impressed or what! It didn't make me feel like Phua Chu Kang's niece! I was relieved to be rid of my heels that were giving me countless blisters after a long day of walking around and was threatening to walk off in my fashionable HAVANAs. I only agreed to return it to Mr. Hunk when he dished out a 15% discount card for my next CROCS purchase.

As host Stephanie Carrington aptly put it, CROCS has been around for God knows how long. I was grateful that it finally did something to reach out to fellow fashionistas out there who DO want to have comfort on top of beauty.

And who was it who said you can't have the cake and eat it too? I'm eating mine right away!

Winnie tries out her pick, a pair of green HANALEI

CROCS representative talks about SS09 Collection

A tale of 2 girls and how one ended up in our city

2009-04-07T17:06:00.006+08:00

Zebra Crossing Productions is a young but dynamic company, helmed by Artistic Director, Loretta Chen and Executive Producer Felina Khong, who together, strike the quirky balance that makes for a creative and profitable company.

It is this dynamism that is seeing Jazz sensation Laura Fygi breaking from her comfort zone, that being a Jazz performer, to join the ranks of being an artsy, Theatre/Musical artiste. This sultry-voiced dynamite herself set foot onto our sunny shores on April Fools' Day 2009 to grace the press conference for the musical she is starring in November 2009, Victor/Victoria.

Without delving into the musical and spoiling the fun for all you musical fans out there, I shall share the funny story that led to Laura's (oh do indulge me in addressing her on a first name basis..) sparkling appearance on our little dot of a country called Singapore.

As Loretta mused, the idea to feature Victor/Victoria had brewed years ago but it was not easy casting the lead character cos you need "not just anybody who can sing but a professional Singer who has lived the life of a Singer", in order to portray the character in its essence.

Laura Fygi sprang into her mind and of course, with Felina Khong's strict fingers over the purse strings, Loretta knew there was no way in hell she'd be allowed to even attempt casting Laura in this production.

However, Loretta being Loretta (read: unconventional, out-of-this-world crazy, no-box-needed-to-think-out-of style), she thought, What's the worse that can happen if she just sends Laura an email? At most, she'd delete it. End of story. So the story goes that Laura, at that same point of time was deliberating her performing career, thinking, nobody's ever going to cast me in anything else but a witch.. blah blah blah in a play. Talk about cosmic telepathy! And just when Laura's manager was about to reject the role on her behalf, Laura decided, wait a minute, I want to explore all possibilities, no matter how small it might seem.

The next thing you know, the email exchanges between Laura and Loretta progressed to SMSes (all these still done behind Felina's back) and before you knew it, Laura called Loretta one night while Loretta was stark naked (hehe.. what a twist eh? and before your dirty minds plays it up, she was getting dressed to go out for dinner!) to chat and before long, Loretta had to confess the 'relationship' to Felina before they could take it to the next level.

And that is how yours truly is seated in Victoria Bar @ Hotel Intercontinental, wolfing down cakes and tea while trying not to choke over the hilarious anecdotes of 'How Laura Came To Be'.

And may I just say that I am totally mesmerized by Laura Fygi's combination of sultry voice and comic-timing (yes , the Jazz Queen is funny!). I am sooooo looking forward to the production of Victor/Victoria.

For more ticketing information, please visit: Zebra Crossing Productions Pte Ltd

The Importance of Being Earnest - Review

2009-04-07T10:34:00.005+08:00

Went to catch this play on Saturday at Drama Centre and was seated at Circle 2's front row. Before watching this Oscar Wilde comedy, directed by Glen Goei and starring an all male cast, I was wondering if I might be revolted by the portrayal of the males in their gender-bending depiction.

Don't get me wrong, I am not gay-phobic but most times, males acting as females in theater tends to overplay the 'feminine factor' and the dramatized depiction gets a little uneasy and unnatural.

I was glad to experience none of the unnatural-'ness' as the gender-bending characters played by Ivan Heng (Lady Bracknell), Chua Enlai (Gwendolyn Fairfax), Hossan Leong (Miss Prism) and Gavin Yap (Cecily Cardew) were a natural balance of masculine-femininity. Much like how a normal girl might be in real life. Of course, I'm not referring to a dainty, 'manja' girlish type but a typical new age female.

The actors did not try too hard to up the girlish-ness of feminine factor and in fact interjected masculine outbursts at certain points for comical effect.

The direction given to this play by Glen Goei, from the beautiful classical pieces serenading the crowd by T'ang Quartet, to the laid-back setting of an otherwise 'snooty' era the play is set in, made the play very 'consumable' to non-theater goers (in my opinion anyways).

Particularly commendable are the portrayals by Brendon Fernandez (as Algernon Moncrief), the cheeky young lad who is never serious about anything and lives life beyond his means, as well as, Gavin Yap's portrayal of a ditsy and pretty 18-year-old Cecily Cardew. Together, their young, romantic antics and comic timing brought many laughs to the audience.

Ivan Heng in 'her' royal-highness, did a grand portrayal of diva-ness and Hossan Leong as usual never fails to entertain with his shrilly, old maid style. However, it failed to impress not because they were not great but simply because I expect them to be this good.

Kudos to T'ang Quartet for being so candid in their segments, being part of the lively act between cast and musician. I can definitely bear a late start to the show simply because their music make time irrelevant.

Another point to note is the beautiful costumes designed for this cast by Frederick Lee. I used to model for his bridal shows but seeing his creations in this play makes me wanna be living in the play just to wear his clothes all over again.

You don't have to be an 'artsy' theater-goer. If you are a comedy-buff, fashionista, music lover or simply wants to be entertained, this play is worth being at. And at the price the tickets are going for, Wild Rice is definitely pegging it to current financial situations.

Rating:

Show details:
Date: 25 Mar - 11 Apr 2009
Venue: Drama Centre Theatre @ National Library Building
Tickets: www.sistic.com.sg

Brendon Fernandez talks about the play and his character:

Guess Store Relaunch Fashion Show - 2009 March 20

2009-03-22T12:01:00.006+08:00

Guess store at Paragon Shopping Centre, Singapore did a relaunch and staged a fashion parade showcasing their latest season's collections. Lending celebrity sparks to the show were Denise Keller and Julian Hee, both dorning the Guess Tees and jeans combi bringing home the message of looking good in anything if you have a good body.

Much Ado About Nothing

2009-02-20T16:06:00.003+08:00

Following the hugely successful launch of the "Shakespeare in the Park" series with A Midsummer Night's Dream in May 2007, SRT is delighted to present another comedy that will bring audiences from all walks of life to Fort Canning Park in the biggest local theatre event of the year.

In May 2007, over 20,000 people picnicked while 40 actors transformed the park into a magical theatrical experience. This year's Much Ado About Nothing - set in 1930s Singapore - will be even more spectacular, engaging and twice as much fun.

A major coup for Singapore is that the comedy will be directed by London-based Edward Dick, who has directed A Midsummer Night's Dream for the Sydney Theatre Company, Romeo and Juliet for Shakespeare's Globe, and Twelfth Night at Regent's Park in London.

The cast will be lead by MediaCorp Artiste Adrian Pang, who also starred as Hamlet in SRT's production in 1997. Adrian will be joined on stage by Jason Chan and Wendy Kweh (Life! Theatre Award winner for her role in SRT's A Midsummer Night's Dream) and a cast of local and international actors.

Synopsis
Beatrice, independent and forthright, and Benedick, a self-confessed 'woman-hater', pass their time constantly goading and scorning each other. When they are thrown together to defend a friend's and family's honour, their true feelings begin to be revealed.

Date:	From 7th May 2009 (Thursday to Sunday)
Time:	7:30pm (Ticket holders are encouraged to picnic from 6.30pm)
Duration:	2 hr 30 mins (not including 20 minutes interval)
Price:	Advance sale: Sunday - Thursday - $33/ Friday - Saturday - $38 At the Door: Sunday -Thursday $43/Friday - Saturday - $48 VIP Packages (Incl. 2 glasses of wine and canapés - seating under marquee) Only advance sales $78 Sunday - Thursday and Friday - Saturday $83 Student price $25 on Thursdays and Sundays
Venue:	Fort Canning Green, Fort Canning Park
Ticketing:	SISTIC at 6348 5555 or www.sistic.com.sg for concessions, wet-weather plans and VIP packages
Website:	www.srt.com.sg

What the Butler Saw - post production

2009-02-18T17:36:00.003+08:00

Received this in the mail from the marketing people at Zebra Crossing. It was unfortunate that I had to miss the project but I do look forward to more Zebra Crossing productions :)

Here's a look at what I missed..

Elizabeth, Vernetta and Shane stripping down. Must be cold in there.

Wassup with the blood on Shane? Cat fight?

The Crab Flower Club

2009-02-17T17:32:00.005+08:00

Presenting a project by Toy Factory. Directed by Goh Boon Teck, The Crab Flower Club was inspired by poems from A Dream of the Red Chambers.

In the original text, characters in the novel enjoy gathering in a pavilion garden to consume river crabs and compose poems of flowers. In this contemporary theatre piece, Goh Boon Teck borrows the sense of vulnerability and decadency in Cao’s context to create a contradictory space where his original characters communicate and confront.

The newly created set of protagonists are five related women in a respectable household in Qing Dynasty, all ready to embrace each other’s wholesomeness as well as bringing one another down to ashes. During their preparation of a complex crab feast and creating metaphorical poems about Chrysanthemums and Begonia, we are enlightened by their multi-faceted world of morality, conspiracy and philosophy.

The pillar of sound for The Crab Flower Club will be Franz Liszt’s Symphonic Poem Les Preludes. This symphonic poem is a pure display of emotion, and subtle on depiction of messages and meanings. Liszt felt that the language of music could be cross-pollinated by other arts, such as poetry and painting. This symphonic poem was composed during the era of this play, the fusion brings sensitivity of the west into an oriental story. The music will be treated with contemporary sound design.

Video Art will also be incorporated in this production. Working closely with ink painter Hong Sek Chern, her LIVE painting will be projected to create the multiple changes of visuals on stage. As the leading female artist in Singapore, her powerful and sensitive visuals will provide extraordinary dimension to the play.

Performance Information
Performance Venue: Drama Centre
Dates: 03 - 05 June 2009 (Wed – Fri)
No. of shows: 3 shows
Duration: Approximately 90 mins - no intermission
Show time: 8PM
Language: English with Chinese subtitles
Ticket Prices: $50, $40, $30, $20
Ticket Agent: SISTIC hotline 63485555 or visit www.sistic.com.sg

The Human Body - Facts

2009-02-06T16:35:00.008+08:00

My son came home from playschool one day and told me, "Mommie, the largest bone in your body is called a FEMUR and the smallest bone is STIRRUP. There are 206 bones in a human body".

This info took me by surprise and I was ashamed at my lack of knowledge to furnish him with more scientific facts about the human body. Today, a colleague kindly beefed up my general knowledge again with the following facts and illustrations. I shall go home and tell my son about them.. :)

Scientists say the higher your I.Q. The more you dream (OK before you get excited, it DIDN'T say that if you dream a lot, you HAVE high I.Q.)

The largest cell in the human body is the female egg and the smallest is the male sperm

You use 200 muscles to take one step

The average woman is 5 inches shorter than the average man (which means to say that either I am taller than the average woman.. OR alot of the men I know are shorter than average men..hmmm)

Your big toes have two bones each while the rest have three

A pair of human feet contains 250,000 sweat glands

A full bladder is roughly the size of a soft ball

The acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve razor blades (so ladies, if you ever get attacked by a man, just puke at him buahahaha...)

The human brain cell can hold 5 times as much information as the Encyclopedia Britannica (erm.. ok... not mine..)

It takes the food seven seconds to get from your mouth to your stomach (one, two, three.. yeah i'm eating)

The average human dream lasts 2-3 seconds (i can almost swear that mine are longer. i even get continuing dreams that follows where it ends off after waking up to pee)

Men without hair on their chests are more likely to get cirrhosis of the liver than men with hair (hairless = weaker liver? double depressing for these men)

At the moment of conception, you spent about half an hour as a single cell

There are about one trillion bacteria on each of your feet (now you know why mum always nags at you to wash your feet when you get home huh?)

Your body gives off enough heat in 30 minutes to bring half a gallon of water to a boil (energy conservation ideas anyone?)

The enamel in your teeth is the hardest substance in your body

Your teeth start growing 6 months before you are born

When you are looking at someone you love, your pupils dilate, and they do the same when you are looking at someone you hate (hence the saying that you can only hate someone you love?)

Your thumb is the same length of your nose (and I know you are measuring it now o_O'")

The Wedding Game (Review)

2009-02-04T16:34:00.006+08:00

Went to watch The Wedding Game last Wednesday (28 Jan 2009) with my friend. Just a girl night out. After all the hoo-ha about the real life vs reel life, I just had to watch it.

I have a love-hate relationship with Fann Wong. I love her skin color but hate her elusiveness. To me, there're no such things as a Celebrity in Singapore. C'mon, Singapore's way too small to attempt to be elusive and mystical. The probability of running into her at the public toilet is as good as running into an old friend there as well.

Anyways, about the movie.

The couple plays a 'pretend couple' attempting to use their relationship to spice up their popularity. Her for the sake of making more money to save her dad's factory (she's supposedly a malaysian from malacca) and he to win his father's favor again.

Not much meat to the story except to watch out for the chemistry between the couple. or is that all? not to me. i particularly enjoyed watching Hei Ren and Alice Lau as their devoted gay and idolising artiste managers.

Hei Ren has always been depicted as a macho big guy so seeing him portray an effeminate gay man was refreshing. Ashamed to say that I didn't exactly know of Alice Lau's existence before this movie, I was entranced by her dramatism that can only be in a Canto-opera.

Her love-smitten-ness towards her charge, that is Chris and great comic timing gave the otherwise 'good only for eye candy movie' the needed artistic value.

As for Chris and Fann? I only wished there were more sexy interactions between them cos at the end of the day, isn't this what the audience wants to see?

Bravos:
:) The cutesy image portrayed by Fann's character, Vickki. Didn't make me regurgitate despite it coming from a 38 year-old (yes, Fann is 38, darling!)
:) The supporting casts of the 2 artiste managers and Vickki's childhood friend, played by Saiful Apek

Boos:
:( The much touted fashionable wardrobe was not glitzy enough. C'mon! These are CELEBRITIES! Give'm more glamour!!
:( Sex quotient was extremely low and disappointing. I wanna see more sexy action between the love-birds.

Ratings:

What The Butler Saw - Trailer

2009-02-04T15:45:00.003+08:00

Am seriously overloaded with tasks and am falling behind on updating my blog. Quite a few things to look out for coming up.

There's FHM Girl Next Door 2009, Miss Singapore Universe 2009 and Manhunt 2009. Will try to update on those whenever I can. For now, catch the trailer of WTBS coming to you from 7 Feb 2009.

Baby Care Festival 2009

2009-01-22T12:40:00.006+08:00

Organized by MediaCorp Publishing's Mother & Baby magazine, Baby Care Festival 2009 brings more goodies and baby contest to proud parents of 0-4 year olds. Do you have a charming little tyke at home? Then take action now and share your bundle of joy.

Get set to be taken on an enchanted ride when you join in the magic that awaits you at BabyCare Festival 2009. At BCF 2009, your whole family will be dazzled by exhilarating entertainment, fun activities and fantastic buys, all happening under one roof!

The biggest Mother and Baby Fair is back for the fourth year!
27 Feb to 1 March 2009 | Hall 6B, Singapore Expo
Friday & Saturday, 11am to 9pm | Sunday, 1 2009 1am to 8pm
FREE ADMISSION

Festival Highlights

Is your little one Cover Baby material? Sign your sweetie up for the Mother & Baby Cover Baby Contest and she might just be featured on the April 2009 cover of Mother & Baby magazine! Log on to www.family.sg for details on how to enter.
Let your little action hero take part in our Toddler Telematch (12 to 18 months) and BabyCrawling Contest (6 to 12 months), then cheer on your little sprinter as he races to the finishing line.
Snap pictures of your chubby bubbies at our photo booth!
Head for our unforgettable enchanted themed play area — we’ll have plenty of fun rides, bouncy castles, storytelling sessions and engaging performances to amuse both young and old!

Fantastic Gifts Worth $20,000! Take part in this enchanted journey and you might just be one of the lucky ones to go home with a princely reward — we have over $20,000 worth of fabulous prizes and goodie bags to give away!

Exclusive subscription offers when you subscribe to Mother & Baby — only at BabyCare Festival 2009.

Star buy Check out unbeatable deals and great promotions at our showcase of maternity and babycare products and services. You will find everything you need at BCF 2009!

TVC of What the Butler Saw - Mischief. Madness. Mayhem!

2009-01-16T14:52:00.002+08:00

The TVC is out! Catch a sneak of what to expect in the real thing right here:

"What the Butler Saw doesn't disappoint. Here at last are the two hours of nonstop laughter that theatergoers have been pursuing all season."
The New York Times

Considered the late British satirist Joe Ortons finest play, What the Butler Saw is an award-winning comedy that knits together dysfunctional family relationships, laws of attraction, notions of sanity, identity and authority in an exceedingly comic fashion. Set in 1960s Singapore, it is a must-see comedy for all! Mischief. Madness. Mayhem. Compliments of the House.

Starring Gerald Chew, Vernetta Lopez, Elizabeth Tan, Shane Mardjuki, Vadi PVSS and Timothy Nga. Produced by Zebra Crossing Productions and directed by Loretta Chen, What the Butler Saw will come charging down Drama Centre Theatre 7 to 22 February 2009. For details, log on to www.zebracrossing.com.sg

Tickets available from www.sistic.com.sg

Haus Clearance Sales

2009-01-16T11:22:00.004+08:00

I don't typically put these in my blogs but as a Property and Home & Interior writer, I get blasted by so many promos from Furnishing and ID firms that I'm beginning to think, WHY NOT?

Additional avenues of publicity for these people and no harm to me. So here goes the first of more to come:

German Furniture and Concept Store, Haus is having a Clearance Sale of up to 50% off. So if you're looking to update your furnishing for the Chinese New Year, you can go check it out.

Promotion has begun and is on the basis of WHILE STOCKS LASTS so hurry down and grab the good deals.

The Bridge Project – The Winter’s Tale (Media Release)

2009-01-07T09:54:00.006+08:00

I truly applaud SRT in their 'workaholism'. Just within the first quarter of 2009, they are presenting 3 shows!

And thanks to SRT, it appears that hunk-a-dory Ethan Hawke will be visiting our sunny shores soon!

Singapore Repertory Theatre
proudly presents
The Bridge Project – The Winter’s Tale

The Bridge Project is a major new trans-Atlantic venture for director Sam Mendes (Academy Award winner for American Beauty), Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) and The Old Vic in London, which is run by Kevin Spacey (Academy Award winner for The Usual Suspects and American Beauty).

Sam Mendes will direct The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare in 2009 starring Simon Russell Beale, Sinead Cusack and Rebecca Hall from the UK; and Richard Easton, Josh Hamilton and Ethan Hawke from the US.

Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) is proud to be one of the five co-commissioners of The Bridge Project, which involved investing seed money in the creation of what will arguably be the most prestigious global theatrical event in 2009.

Singapore will be the first – and only Asian stop – on the world-tour in March 2009. SRT will present the Singapore leg in collaboration with Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.

Over the past 15 years, SRT has produced high quality theatre in Singapore with a very international edge, benchmarking itself against the best. A testament to its investment in and commitment to quality is a very loyal and rapidly growing audience-base in Singapore. SRT’s strategy of working with the best stage talent from around the world fuels its mission of created a name for itself, and for Singapore, as a leading arts capital. The end-goal is to build a relationship with international producers who will then help tour original Singaporean plays and musicals.

SRT entered a very successful partnership in 2007’s with the Royal Shakespeare Company by presenting their productions of King Lear and The Seagull, directed by Sir Trevor Nunn and starring Sir Ian McKellen which. Singapore’s involvement in The Bridge Project is a direct result of the success of the RSC project.

“It is a major coup for Singapore to be the first stop (and only Asian destination) on this international tour of what is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This will be the most important theatrical event anywhere in the world in 2009. To have Singapore Repertory Theatre listed as one of the co-commissioners on every poster and newspaper ad around the world is incredible,” says Singapore Repertory Theatre’s Artistic Director Gaurav Kripalani.

Commented JP Nathan, Director of Programming, The Esplanade Co Ltd: “We are very pleased to be working in collaboration with SRT again. Last year’s collaboration on the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of King Lear gave SRT valuable exposure in managing productions of such a scale. Working together allows Esplanade to help local companies like SRT shoulder the risks of presenting large productions while deepening their expertise in managing such works to place them more firmly as credible and trustworthy players in the international arts market. Just as we did for the Asian leg of the RSC production, Esplanade will also be lending its technical expertise to the project by overseeing the construction of the sets which will be used for the Singapore and New Zealand productions of The Winter’s Tale. Having the sets built in the region will not only make economic sense but will also help train up local expertise in the area. We look forward to more of such collaborations and knowledge sharing in the future.’

Ticket information
DATES: 26^th to 31^st March 2009
Thursday to Tuesday 8pm/ 3pm matinee Sat, Sun and Tuesday
PRICES: From $40 to $325
VENUE: Esplanade Theatre
TICKETING: SISTIC at 6348 5555 or www.sistic.com.sg
WEBSITE: www.srt.com.sg

Bedtime Stories (Review)

2009-01-06T16:22:00.010+08:00

My dear friend (aka my son's godma) treated us to Bedtime Stories at GV, Vivo on Saturday.

The movie had to stand the test of 2 full grown adults and a restless 4 year old and that in itself, is no mean feat.

A quick run down of the cast is as follows:

Adam Sandler: (plays Skeeter) The underdog.
Courtney Cox: (Wendy) Skeeter's sourpuss older sis.
Keri Russell: (Jill) Wendy's friend/colleague and Skeeter's arc 'lover'. Green-lover and Miss Perfect.
Russell Brand: (Mickey) Skeeter's bohemian buddy who waits at the hotel and suffers from sleep panic attacks.
Guy Pearce: (Kendall) The ass-kissing hotel mogul wannabe.
Richard Griffiths: (Barry Nottingham) The hotel mogul with a very Trump-like style ;)
Teresa Palmer: (Violet Nottingham) The hotel heiress who totally channels Paris Hilton lol..
Jonathan Morgan Heit: (Patrick) Skeeter's nephew and son to Wendy.
Laura Ann Kesling: (Bobbi) Skeeter's niece and daughter to Wendy.

Sandler leads the show as the underdog of a not too successful, chronically cynical Mr Handyman in the hotel that his old man had sold to a hotel mogul decades ago, in the hope that he could one day take over the reins of running the hotel again (as promised by the hotel mogul to his Skeeter's dad).

While Cox does a great job channeling her Monica Gellar into Wendy with the control freak style and OCD dispositions, I can't help but feel that her casting was rather pigeon-holed.

Keri Russell's character was too nice to be real and bordered on boring for me.

The characters that stole the show, at least for me, were Mickey and the guinea pig, Bugsy. Both generated lotsa laughs to the otherwise overly sarcasm-laced movie. Not the best of themes to allow your little ones to watch (if they even understand the sarcasm in the first place).

Overall though, I'd still say go watch it. If nothing else, then for the fantasy playbacks while the bedtime stories goes on..

Trailer:

Rating

Defending The Caveman (presented by DBS Arts Centre and 3SAGAS)

2009-01-06T11:31:00.005+08:00

Another production by SRT that is set to show in March. A little teaser to decide if you wanna go for it.

DBS Arts Centre – Home of SRT and 3SAGAS
proudly present

Defending the Caveman, the longest running solo play in Broadway history, is now a worldwide, rock-solid tour-de-force. This blockbuster has won the hearts of millions in more than 15 different languages.

Defending the Caveman, a hilariously insightful play about the ways men and women relate, is an international hit with productions in 30 countries including the United States, Canada, South Africa, Iceland, Sweden and Germany.

Comedian Rob Becker wrote Defending the Caveman over a three-year period during which he made an informal study of anthropology, prehistory, psychology, sociology and mythology.

This prehistoric look at the battle of the sexes played for two years on Broadway and is full of hilarious scenarios that celebrate the differences between the sexes.

Starring Daniel Jenkins (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Pillowman)
Directed by Tracie Pang (The Pillowman, Boom)

What the Press said about Defending the Caveman

“An outrageously funny and surprisingly sweet exploration of the gender gap…"
- Chicago Sun Times

“Hysterically Funny! Couples who were seen arguing before the show, stroll out into the night holding hands.” - Variety

“A comic phenomenon!” - The New York Times

With hilarious insights on contemporary feminism, masculine sensitivity and the erogenous zone, Defending the Caveman addresses the common themes in relationships that go straight to the funny bone.

Ticketing Information
DATES: 11 – 15 March 2009, Wednesday – Sunday 8pm
PRICES: $40 - Group discounts available
VENUE: DBS Arts Centre – Home of SRT
TICKETING: SISTIC at 6348 5555 or www.sistic.com.sg
WEBSITE: www.srt.com.sg & www.defendingthecaveman.com

Bear and Chicken Go Camping (By The Little Company)

2009-01-05T12:13:00.004+08:00

Woohoo, another play by The Little Company I'm looking forward to taking my son to. This will be sometime in March so while waiting, here's a teaser:

Singapore Repertory Theatre’s The Little Company
proudly presents

Bear and Chicken Go Camping

A new play about the sun, moon and shooting stars

Written by Katerina Tiapula
Directed by Michael Corbidge

SRT’s The Little Company will stage a new production called Bear and Chicken Go Camping in March 2009. Written by Katerina Tiapula, the play is the second part of a highly successful original series that began with When I Grow Up.

Synopsis
Best friends Chicken and Bear go on a camping adventure in the Great Outdoors. Throughout the night, they make lots of amazing discoveries about the world such as shooting stars, what happens to the Sun at night and how come crickets can make such loud noises.

Written for children from 2 to 6 years old, Bear and Chicken Go Camping is a delightful and educational tale that stresses the importance of friendship even under difficult circumstances. It features a professional cast of actors who will perform catchy songs and dance routines against a colourful set.

“We have wonderful position in the market as the leading producer of children’s theatre in Singapore. We are proud of this investment in future audiences for the entire industry and are also very focused on creating new original Singaporean works for children with touring potential like the Bear and Chicken series”, says Artistic Director Gaurav Kripalani.

DATES: 5 March to 11 April 2009 – please see SISTIC for performance schedule
PRICES: Mon-Fri $22 – Weekends $28 excluding SISTIC fee (Group discounts/Family Packages available)
VENUE: DBS Arts Centre – Home of SRT
TICKETING: SISTIC at 6348 5555 or www.sistic.com.sg
WEBSITE: www.srt.com.sg

In Mira

2008-12-26T19:56:00.004+08:00

Interesting performance that's coming to town. Watch out for it if you're into 'Artsy' performances

About IN MIRA
A dance production by Raka Maitra, in collaboration with folk musicians from Rajasthan

Mira was a 15th Century Rajput princess born into the ruling clan in Kudki, near Jodhpur in present-day Rajasthan. During her lifetime she was renowned for her beauty, intelligence, pride, wilfulness and great devotion to her god Shyam, the one she called “the dark one”.

Mira was entered into an arranged marriage at the age 20 but her husband was soon killed in battle. She however rejected widowhood and continued to sing, dance and compose songs and poetry for her beloved Shyam. It is said that she traversed Rajasthan and Gujarat on foot singing the praises of her lord.

Today Mirabai, her life and work is veiled by the mysteries and awe of legend, spirituality and religiosity, which are as obscurantist as they are revealing. Mira’s poetry seems to be most alive in the folk traditions of Rajasthan - in the courtyard, along highways, through markets and temples with a few finger cymbals, a harmonium and a drum. The folk musicians have been passing on the tradition across the generations.

In Mira seeks to express the life and work of this brave, single-minded, remarkable woman contextualised in performance, dance and movement, mediated by folk music, text and history. This is not a religious homage; it is an attempt to celebrate the exceptional, exemplary and intense humanity which Mirabai’s life and work epitomises.

About Raka Maitra
Raka Maitra is a classically trained Indian dancer who pushes boundaries to create contemporary Indian dance productions. Specialized in Odissi under Padmashree Madhavi Mudgal and legendary Guru - the late Kelucharan Mahapatra, she also went through an Intensive training in Serraikella Chhau under Guru Sashadhar Acharya, at the Triveni Kala Sangam.

Her current initiatives include exploring the different dimensions of Indian contemporary dance and developing her own dance vocabulary, drawing from training in Odissi and Chhau. She is also the Director of the first Indian contemporary dance festival in Singapore, “The Grey Festival.”

In 2008, Raka embarked on a journey to Rajasthan to visit, learn and understand Mira further. With the assistance of Chan Man Loon, they visited a small village to document the folk singers Mukhtiar and others from the Maan community, who has kept Mira’s poems alive till today.

The result is In Mira.

For this production, Raka will be working in collaboration with the Folk (musicians from Rajasthan), the post modern (Philip Tan) and the abstract, which is her dance. With visuals by Chan Man Loon, lights by Tommy Wong and text by T. Sasitharan, In Mira seeks to push the boundaries further to celebrate Mira in dance.

Dance & Choreography: Raka Maitra
Music: Philip Tan
Voice over: T.Sasitharan
Folk Musicians from Rajasthan: Mana Ram, Jetha Ram, Mane Khan.
Visuals: Chan Man Loon.
Lights: Tommy Wong.

Date: 16th & 17th January 2009
Time: 8pm
Tickets: $28
$22 concession for students, senior citizens and NSF available. Tickets on sale now through SISTIC Website, Hotline & Authorised Agents (www.sistic.com.sg).

www.inmira.wordpress.com

This production is supported by NAC, Arts Fund and The Substation.

Retail Therapy Alert

2008-12-26T12:05:00.009+08:00

I am so in need of retail therapy these days but all those who know me knows that I'm no shopaholic. Plus I REALLY hate crowds. So sales hardly get my attention.

But difficult times calls for desperate shopping measures and I've been sucked in to all these warehouse sales where you get really good bargains.

Here're a couple that I'm looking to go these few days:

Who: Wing Tai December Warehouse Sales
What: Up to 70% off for Top Shop, Top Man and judging from the logo, I'm assuming Nike?
Where: Wing Tai Industrial Building, 105 Tampines Road
When: Now till 8 Feb 2009 | 12pm to 7pm

Who: Adidas Post Christmas Sales
What: 30%+20%=50%?
Where: Adidas Stores (Suntec City, The Cathay, VivoCity, Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, Heeren, Tampines Mall, Parkway Parade, Ngee Ann City, Wheelock Place, CityLink Mall, The Paragon, IMM, Parco Bugis Junction, Junction 8, Takashimaya L4 & Jurong Point)
When: 26 to 28 Dec 2008

So if you're also looking for bargains like me, see you at these sales.

Are you The 1?

2008-12-26T11:54:00.003+08:00

2008 is coming to an end and 2009 kick starts another new series of auditions for pageants preparing to send their winners to international contests. Here's a few that are calling for auditions even before Chinese New Year kicks in:

BEST MODEL OF SINGAPORE 2009

We are in search for a Singapore Male and Female
To represent Singapore at the
Best Model of the World 2009
In Istanbul Nov. 2009

Entry Criteria:
*A Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident;
*18 to 28 years of age
* Single
Send your entry form together with 3 recent photographs and a copy of your NRIC.

SINGAPORE CHILD MODEL OF THE YEAR 2009
Or
SINGAPORE TEEN MODEL OF THE YEAR 2009

We are in search for a Singapore Male and Female

Entry Criteria:
*A Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident;
*6 to 12 years of age (Singapore Child Model of The Year 2009)
*13 to 17 years of age (Singapore Teen Model of The Year 2009)

Send your entry form with 3 recent photographs and a copy of your birth certificate and a non-returnable processing fee of SGD$25.00.
All Cheque to be made payable to:

Best Model of the World 2009
Block 23, Toa Payoh East, #08-227 Singapore 310023

Closing date: 30 December 2008
For enquires, please call: 6733 7747

:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+

Audtions for 2009 Miss Petite Singapore Sweetheart & Miss Singapore Sweetheart is now Open

Criteria:
Petite: 165cm and Below
Miss: 166cm and Above
Never been married
Never had a child
Age: 18 to 26 in 2009
Open To all Nationalities (Do not need to be a Singaporean)

Venue: Academy IG
273 Thomson Rd #04-02 Novena Gardens (next to Revenue House)
Time: 1pm to 3pm
Date: Jan 4, 11, 18 2009

Bring 2 photos, 1 head shot & 1 full length
Non-refundable registration fee of $20

We are looking for new faces to promote in modelling and entertainment industry. There will be a talent competition but NO SWIMWEAR COMPETITION!

Call today for more information: 67372700
or email: carter@academyig.com

Do Not Disturb - Late Checkout Please!

2008-12-15T12:08:00.003+08:00

As a non-TV hogger, I have serious problems sitting down in front of the goggle box and going through an entire programme without moving around the house or multi-tasking with another activity. Hence, I can only vaguely remember the series, Do Not Disturb, that aired on Arts Central last year.

My vague collection tells me that it involved a lot of sex, nudity (well, as far as MDA would permit on our airwaves anyway) and budget hotel rooms.

Now, one year on, some of the cast and crew of the TV series are remaking a theatre act, similarly titled Do Not Disturb with additional description of Late Checkout Please!

I would love to watch the play cos I am certain it will not be as heavily censored as if it were on free to air TV. This means more creative expression, and for you sex(porn)-hungry peeps out there, more raunchy material for the brains in the gutter.

What excites me about this production though is the directorial debut Tan Kheng Hua is making with this play. I've been fascinated with this woman since watching her as Margaret on PCK and something about her aura just intrigues me. But having never met her or spoken to her, I have never quite gotten to her 'soul' and can only see her representations of characters that she plays.

With directing though, I can get a peek into her style beyond playing a character. Some people says that directors are playing out their own fantasies through puppeteering their actors.. so I'll see ;)

Well, to quote her for the directorial effort of this play, she sometimes feels like a 'porno' director because the scenes can be quite intimate - after all they're set in a budget hotel room!.

The other reason to watch this act would be Joanna Dong, for me. Never seen her in a play but have definitely heard her sing as Oosh. We'll see how she fares in this play baring more than just her soulful voice.

So the challenge for me now is to get the tickets. o_O

What happens between two people in a budget hotel room? Four of Singapore’s most exciting writers – Kelvin Tong, Eleanor Wong, Kaylene Tan and Ken Kwek – explore sex, illicit love, claustrophobia, secrets, regrets, revenge and role play with some of Singapore’s finest actors.

Featuring Tan Kheng Hua in her directorial debut, “Do Not Disturb – Late Checkout, Please” opens the door to a place where people hide away and forces to the surface what we don’t want others to see.

“Brunch” by Kelvin Tong featuring Dan Jenkins and Janice Koh
A man and a woman await their adulterous spouses with plans of sabotage. But to what end?

BRUNCH

“Duet” by Eleanor Wong featuring Karen Lim and Serene Chen
Two old friends, a whole lot of baggage, some great songs and that point in a woman’s life when she doesn’t know if she’s coming or going.

DUET

“Teacher’s Day” by Kaylene Tan featuring K Rajagopal and Hadri
A teacher and his male student have been meeting in this budget hotel room. Who’s teaching whom? And what lessons have they learnt?

TEACHER'S DAY

“Real Actors” by Ken Kwek featuring Timothy Nga and Joanna Dong
Two Singaporean actors have been cast to play intimately opposite each other in Ang Lee’s next big movie. They’re in the budget hotel room to discover chemistry, or the lack of it.

REAL ACTORS

Directed by Tan Kheng Hua
Produced by Tan Kheng Hua and Janice Koh
Music by Lim Yu-Beng
Lighting Design by Mac Chandran
Production Design by Night&Day

In collaboration with Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

Dec 18&19, 8pm; Dec 20, 3pm: “Duet” & “Real Actors”
Dec 20&21, 8pm: Dec 21, 3pm: “Brunch” & “Teacher’s Day”
Esplanade Theatre Studio
Tickets $35* from SISTIC. $30 concession tickets available.

(This stage production is based on the critically acclaimed TV series, "Do Not Disturb", which was created by Tan Kheng Hua, directed by Kelvin Tong, produced by Boku Films for Arts Central and supported by MDA).

2008's most gorgeous leg has been crowned by Veet

2008-12-12T17:41:00.003+08:00

Ashley Tan

Check out her talent segment where guess what? Miss Gorgeous Legs sings!!

Miss Singapore Chinatown 2008 crowned

2008-12-10T00:57:00.012+08:00

The crown has been passed on. The Singapore girl that embodies oriental charm - at least in the eyes of the panel of judges, has been crowned in Shangri-La's island ballroom over a 8 course Chinese dinner.

Here's a quick re-cap of the winners for the night:

Miss Singapore Chinatown 2008: Valentane Huang
(also bagged 3 Subsidiary Awards: Miss Popularity, Miss Oriental Charm & Miss Supa Dance)

First Runner-up: Novie Lim

Second Runner-up: Serene Zhao
(won 1 subsidiary tite: Miss Charming)

Subsidiary Awards:

L - R: Jacqueline Kwa (Miss Personality), Serene Zhao (Miss Charming)

L - R: Adeline Ye (Miss Photogenic), Zylia Ang (Miss Francisca)

L - R: Veriza Yew (Miss Body Beautiful & Best in Swimwear), Valentane Huang (Miss Popularity, Miss Oriental Charm & Miss Supa Dance)

Jaselin Peh (Miss Elegant)

Will write more abt the event soon, once the rest of the pics are ready.

The Office Party - Hungover

2008-12-05T09:54:00.008+08:00

A quick intro of the characters for those who have yet to watch:

Cynthia Lee MacQuarrie: Pippa, the seemingly bimbo, sexpot receptionist who in my opinion is a lot smarter than her fellow colleagues give her credit for.
Michael Corbridge: Bob the slob, whom I have absolutely no idea what he does in the ad agency. I can only guess that he is perhaps the Art Director? to complete the make up of an ad agency.
Susan Tordoff: Patty (the accountant?) The stuffy divorcee with two kids who has a constant tension with Bob leading to a sexual brush - literally, at one point.
Wendy Kweh: Jo the beautiful, smart and womanly Accounts servicing person who came down from KL and is the object of fantasy for all males in the agency.
Jason Chan: Andy the mopey and serious Copywriter who is attracted (sexually or soulfully?) to Jo.
James Shubert: Gavin, Managing Director of Chapman & Howard who is both friend and foe to his team.
Shane Mardjuki: Lee the rookie graphics guy who has the hots for Pippa.

With enough friends in the advertising agency, I can only say that this play is as real as it gets in its depiction of the characters (and might I dare to disclose, some of the activities) that resides in some ad firms.

There's not much plot to it really but the entire play is about the uncovering of the issues that each character plays have.

Stereotyped casting appeared in the form of Cynthia Lee MacQuarrie, playing the ah girl style, bimbo, ah lian. This is not to say that she did not do a great job with it but I cannot for the life of me imagine her playing Jo or Patty for example.

Jason Chan's portrayal of Andy was captivating with a lot of inward emotions (something difficult to achieve in a theater setting, in my personal opinion) that were successfully projected to the audience (or at least those seated close enough to the stage)

Another wow actor was James Shubert who, without missing a beat or getting out of scene and character, responded to interaction with the audience and got the floor hooting with laughter at one point.

Hilarious lines with great comic timing (and the audience OBVIOUSLY loved the photocopied butts), the act was engaging in a way that the audience were participating like they were part of the cast at several points. My only grouse is that there was way too many lengthy rants from the characters and that got me yawning intermittently - or maybe it's just my antihistamine taking effect..

What puzzled me throughout the play is also why there is such a strong American and British accent in the various characters who supposedly helmed from Singapore and Malaysia.. hmmm..

I applaud each actor for the depth of show in the characters they play. However, i think this play would have pulled off better should the platform be television because much of the details in the actors' expressions were probably lost on those who were seated further away from the stage. Plus, I am extremely curious about the mentioned but never seen wives of Andy and Bob. TV directing next, Tracie?

Ratings:

Do you deserve her?

2008-12-01T10:40:00.005+08:00

A friend showed me a video of this 5 year old Korean pianist who is blind from birth. The girl was abandoned by her birth parents but kindly adopted by this loving couple. They may not have been able to give her the best in life but by picking her little life up and loving her, they created a special child out of her.

Who wouldn't want a child that is perfect? But the fact of the matter is, nobody is. And it is simply societal methods of defining what is normal and more acceptable that we push these 'values' on to ourselves.

A blind child is deemed unworthy of being in the eyes of Ee Yun's birth parents but her adoptive parents saw the worth in her. And that gave her the hope to live on - and become even more special.

Ee Yun's (first?) appearance on Korean TV

Ee Yun with Britain's Got Talent little sweetheart Connie Talbot - together, they bring tears of love and warmth into my eyes.

The Tooth Fairy

2008-11-30T23:08:00.006+08:00

Took my son to watch the play by SRT's junior arm - The Little Company. True to it's target audience, at least half the turnout were kids.

The play had a boring conversational beginning with the kids, Ruth and Raoul played by Stephen Whiley & Julie Wee bantering like typical kid siblings would.

The funny and at times witty lines were lost on the younger kids in the audience.

Enters Dr. MacCavity played by Judee Tan, came the gripping lighting and sound effects. The setting together with the very realistically uglifying make up of Dr. MacCavity had my son totally sucked in and within moments he panicked, trembled in fear and wanted to get out of the theatre!

No amount of hugging and soothing could convince him to stay in the act and soon i had to take him out so as not to disrupt the enjoyment of the other audience.

As we were leaving the theatre, he spat out the candy i had given him just moments ago to pacify him because Dr. MacCavity said she would take the rotten teeth of kids who ate candy. My son was COMPLETELY freaked out!

One usher was very kind and came up to me when i was at the foyer soothing my son. She told me I could go back in whenever he was ready to and take a seat further in the back so he would not be at such close proximity to the 'evil' MacCavity.

We finally went back in when MacCavity left the stage and enjoyed the following scenes where Ruth, Raoul and the tooth fairy got acquainted and ensued to leave for Fairyland.

The graceful while animated Fairy, played by Tiffany Wrightson, who obviously is a trained ballerina enchanted the kids. Erstwhile, Ruth and Raoul engaged the audience with interactive sessions where we had to help them with certain tasks by either clapping, shouting or following instructions.

The sequence of hip hop, rap style performance also got many tiny hands and feet clapping and stamping.

Despite having to leave the theatre on several occasions that Dr. MacCavity made her appearace, my son enjoyed the play and even agreed later on that MacCavity was no longer scary (she smiled at the ending cast intro).

As a mom of an overly engaged and sensitive toddler, I also appreciated the initiative of the ushers who were helpful in trying to pacify my frightened son and even pre-empted me about MacCavity's appearance at the audience floor so that I was able to avoid further traumatizing my frightened child.

The best part of this play? My boy is now highly cooperative about keeping his teeth clean so that Dr. MacCavity would not be able to visit him for his rotten tooth :)

Rating

What's your mould-ability?

2008-11-28T21:30:00.005+08:00

I had lunch with a very inspiring character today. As I told him at the end of lunch, it was a lunch that not only filled my stomach but also my mind.

3 key takeaways for the day:

1. Living in the moment - cliche has it that we always say, "smell the roses", "enjoy the moment" etc but the reality is we are so constantly bombarded with everything coming our way in our everyday lives that we do tend to miss a lot of details. He taught me a simple way of actually doing that. By telling yourself - I am aware. Try it and you'll know what i mean.
.
2. Time-lock strategy - often times, we are distracted and sometimes guilty. E.g. a working mom who is feels guilty about not being with the child because she has to work. Truth of the matter is, feeling that way doesn't accomplish anything. So by telling herself, "From 9am to 6pm today, I am going to clear my paper work, attend to my clients queries and complete my report. After I get home, I will spend time with my child and enjoy a story book together" This strategy gives her focus to complete her task at the given point of time.

3. Mould-ability - some people are hardened by the setbacks in life. I guess what people call cynicism. But think about it. By remaining soft and 'mould-able', it opens up opportunities to know that the world is really not that bad a place. People are not always out to get you. Remaining 'mould-able' or open minded means giving chances to others and yourself. 'Hard' people break easily.

The Office Party - Info

2008-11-28T17:18:00.012+08:00

At the advertising company Chapman and Howard, the staff have taken great pains to prepare for their traditional Christmas bash, and to ensure that they avoid any scandals similar to last year's which resulted in a visit from the police and the Managing Director's divorce! But when the drinks flow and the good times roll, the party lurches from one disaster to another.

Picture "The Office" meets "Love Actually" and you know you will be in for a rollercoaster ride of laughter, love and tears in this comedy which leads seven diverse characters - Bob the office buaya, Pippa the sarong party secretary, Lee the goodie two-shoes and a host of other crazy characters, through the minefield of office politics, petty differences, sexual harassment and hidden desires. And that's just another day at work!

Directed by Tracie Pang. Starring Wendy Kweh and Cynthia Lee Macquarrie.

Ticketing Details
DATES: 27 November – 13 December 2009
TIMING: 8pm (Monday - Saturday), 4pm (Saturdays)
PRICES: $58, $48 (Friday – Saturday, 8pm), $50, $40 (Monday – Thursday, 8pm & Saturday, 4pm)
VENUE: DBS Arts Centre - Home of SRT
TICKETING: SISTIC at 6348 5555 or www.sistic.com.sg

D.I.V.O.R.C.E - can it be a happy one?

2008-11-28T10:46:00.006+08:00

Went to Quan Yifeng's blog today. First time I ever did that. Honestly, I had no idea before today that she blogs. In fact I still wonder if she actually blogs herself, or does she write stuff and get somebody else to put it up for her. OK, so I'm cynical, i guess she doesn't come across as a tech-y sorta person.

back to the point, she wrote a letter to herself on the blog regarding her recently finalized divorce. in my limited recognition of chinese characters, i managed to get the gist of the letter. it was apparently an amicable divorce.

touched. cos i think it is probably difficult to do that. in order for it to be amicable, both parties need to make it so.

around me are too many friends who either went through or are going through ugly, correction, UGLY divorce processes.

hence, my conclusion that it is not easy to achieve.

i am not a follower of paparazzi but i do read the news so with info gathered here and there, i came to the impression that Quan is not a lady to be trifled with, has a hot temperament and is not someone who minces her words, or actions.

so to know that she went about settling her divorce in a less than melodramatic way, is truly inspiring.

to some, this entry seem like pointless rambling. perhaps, it is. but what the hell, this IS my blog.

Photo source from http://quanyifong.com/

Miss Singapore Universe 2009 is calling for entries now

2008-11-27T16:48:00.005+08:00

Miss Singapore Universe has stopped televising since 2008 due to financial reasons. According to an intimate source, the pageant was no longer able to churn out the moolahs hence the termination to broadcasting.

Nevertheless, the organizer, Derrol Stepenny Promotions aka DSP is still going strong with the pageant and producing girls for the international rounds. 2008 saw Shenise Wong being crowned and representing Singapore.

Coming towards 2009, DSP is once again calling for entries to the new MSU. Here's their publicity call message:

Miss Singapore Universe 2009 is calling out for the unique beauty and individual talent of the women in Singapore.

"BE THE ONE TO WEAR THE CROWN", The World's Most Prestigious Beauty pageant is here once again. Let us radiate great opportunities for contestants as well as the public to anticipate and step out from their routine life and to be the one to wear the crown!

The contestants of ages 18 to 27, Singaporean female and standing at minimum height of 1.65m , will unite to compete for a host of prizes and opportunity to be the role model for women in Singapore and hopefully for the world.

Be the one to wear the Crown! Send in your name to the road of fame. For more information, please email: dsp95@pacific.net.sg

So if you think you are the right kinda girl, or if you know anyone who fits the bill, email DSP now.

Flicks for Free anyone?

2008-11-27T16:31:00.007+08:00

Saw this TODAY article on where to catch free films. OK, granted that they're not screening the latest films but hey, it sure sounds like fun!

MOTHER always said there is no such thing as a free lunch. Or a free movie, for that matter. Well, it shows what she knows.

As every true-blue cheapskate will tell you, there is always a freebie round every corner. You just have to look hard enough. And given that the price of a weekend movie ticket now averages around $10.50, we at Today think there is certainly more than enough motivation to look very, extremely, incredibly hard.

To guide you along, we have provided you with our cheat ... erm, cheap sheet on free movies to help ease the rising cost of living, eye-bulging oil prices and that shrinking discretionary household income — no thanks to your recent purchase of a Chanel bag or that ridiculous mine-is-bigger-than-yours LCD flat screen television.

Sometimes, the best things in life are really free.

Asian Film Archive Collection at library@esplanade

WHO: For the Asian film geek or thesis-writing-student.

WHAT: An impressive collection of more than 100 Singapore film titles and 50 Asian films, including local award-winning film-makers such as Royston Tan, Tan Pin Pin, Boo Junfeng and Wee Li Lin, as well as famous South-east Asian film-makers such as Tan Chui Mui, Riri Riza and Thunska Pansittivorakul.

HOW: Trot over to the customer service counter and fill up a request form at least a day in advance. You can also email your preferred timing and movie of choice to epcl@nlb.gov.sg. These reference films must be viewed within the premises so, sorry, there will be no taking of films home. What do you think this is, Video EZY?

But hey, you actually get a comfy private viewing room for two. Think of how much canoodling ... erm, serious film-watching you can get done. Information on the catalogued films can be found at http://vistaweb.nlb.gov.sg or at www.asianfilmarchive.org.

USE THE $10.50 YOU JUST SAVED TO: Cross the road to Marina Square, dig deep in your pocket for that extra 10 cents and get fat on Carl’s Jr Super Star with Cheese combo and CrissCut Fries.

WHERE: library@esplanade, 8 Raffles Ave, #03-01. The Public Reference Library is open Monday to Sunday from 11am to 9pm. Closed on public holidays.

Tuesday Benefit Screenings at House

WHO: For giggly groups of girls getting together or that boozy boys night out.

WHAT: Cheapskate movie buffs have been heading to Singapore’s only spa/restaurant/bar at Dempsey Hill for a while. There is a different theme each week, with the free movie screened every Tuesday night chosen by you. Yes, you. And you won’t be pressured to buy a drink at all.

From making you choose between Brazil or Blade Runner under the Sci Fi Lullaby theme, to showing quirky French numbers including Amelie and getting you In the Mood for Love for Wong Kar Wai, the atmosphere is always light-hearted fun.

To make things a little sweeter (or in this case, spicier) a free bag of curry popcorn is thrown in.

HOW: Why succumb to movie dictatorship? The next time you’re at House, just pick up an official house movie voting form and tick the movies you want to watch for the entire month. There are buckets around House you can cast your votes in, or you could just hand it to a passing waiter.

If you are truly too lazy to get off your free-loading tush, you can also tell them the movies you would like to see in the upcoming months by emailing votemovie@dempseyhouse.com .

You could also simply just turn up every Tuesday and watch whatever someone else has chosen. Beggars, or should we say cheapskates, can’t be choosers.

USE THE $10.50 YOU JUST SAVED TO: Either order the yummy Truffle Fries ($7) or the Sweet Potato Nibblets ($9). Better yet, throw in a few more dollars to get the party started with the Canchanchara ($17) — a little-known Cuban refresher of rum, lime, homegrown lemongrass and honey water.

WHERE: Wassily Room, House — The Social Benefits, 8D Dempsey Rd, Tuesday, 8.30pm.

Under the Banyan Tree: Open Air Cinema

WHO: For everyone and their grandmothers.

WHAT: On every last Friday and Saturday until the end of September, the National Museum of Singapore’s Cinematheque will be screening some of cinema’s most beloved movie classics under the stars, like the much-adored ’80s flicks The Goonies (Aug 29) and The NeverEnding Story (Aug 30), as well as timeless musicals including West Side Story (Sept 26) and The Sound of Music (Sept 27).

HOW: Pack a picnic basket, find a comfortable grassy patch and park the entire clan on a mat. With a cooler of iced drinks and a couple of battery-operated fans to keep the grumpy kids at bay, you’ll be all set.

For updates and enquiries, please call 6332 3659 / 6332 5642 or visit www.nationalmuseum.sg.

USE THE $10.50 YOU SAVED TO: Make that trip to the supermarket to splurge on extra nibbles for the picnic, like eight Mars bars. That will leave you with 10 cents to make a quick pitstop at a public loo.

WHERE: Stamford Garden, National Museum of Singapore.

Singapore Sun Festival at the botanic gardens

WHO: For the creative romantic (read: Dollar-challenged) trying to impress his date.

WHAT: Coming back for a second year after its inaugural start last year, this acclaimed arts and lifestyle festival will be celebrating the marriage of film, cuisine and wine under the stars with three entirely free outdoor screenings.

The chosen films will give you food for thought, such as Lee Ang’s excellent 1995 Oscar-nominated Eat Drink Man Woman (Oct 24), its Mexican-American remake Tortilla Soup (Oct 25) starring Hector Elizondo and Big Night (Oct 26) with Tony Shalhoub and Stanley Tucci.

HOW: All it takes is a bottle of bubbly, a platter of cheese and crackers, strawberries, chocolates, a soft mat, warm blanket — and the inevitable kiss and cuddle is almost guaranteed.

For more information, visit www.singaporesunfestival.c om.

USE THE $10.50 YOU JUST SAVED TO: Take her on another fun cheap date. Like bowling at Super Bowl Marina Square (that’s $8.60 for two) with shoe rental ($1) included.

WHERE: S’pore Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Rd.

Source: http://www.todayonline.com/articles/270497.asp

MocCarnival - Full Throttle 2008

2008-11-24T10:39:00.011+08:00

Was at the MocCarnival held at the carpark in front of Kallang Leisure Park. Was most intrigued by the Professional Stunt demos and the K1 Go-Karting.

The demos that caught my eyes weren't the ones executed by the professional stunt drivers but was instead the 'Pocket-bike' riders. Believe it or not, the ages range between 4 to 9 years old.

3 of the 4 pocket bike riders at the demo

Video: Check out the Pocket Bike Riders

Lucas Chow, CEO of MediaCorp & Oon Jin Teik, CEO of Singapore Sports Council were also there to grace the event. The proceeds collected from the K1 Go-Karting circuit went directly to the charity beneficiary - Rainbow Centre.

Lucas Chow (in orange shirt) & Oon Jin Teik (in white shirt behind)

What was sad to note was that most people who went for the Go-Karting were reluctant to donate more than $5. This was overheard at the Go-Kart queue:
**********
A: How much for the Go-Karting?
Organizer: The minimum donation amount is $5 and all proceeds go directly to Rainbow Centre for charity.
A: Do you have change for $10?
Organizer: Sorry sir, because it's for charity, we do not give change. Perhaps you'd like to donate more to the charity?
A: Har?! (turned around to person behind queue). You got change? Want to combine or not?
**********

Seriously! If this person can afford the indulgence of Go-Karting, would it KILL him to just give $5 more for the sake of charity?!!

Pre: What The Butler Saw - The Cast

2008-11-21T12:49:00.009+08:00

Got a media release about an upcoming play from Zebra Crossing Productions. It's showing only in Feb 2009 so look out for some upcoming sneaks that I'll be putting up as I cover the production leading towards it's performance.

A little bit about the cast:

Left to Right: Gerald Chew | Vernetta Lopez

Left to Right: Elizabeth Tan | Shane Mardjuki

Left to Right: Vadi PVSS | Timothy Nga

Performance starts from 7 - 22 Feb 2009
Drama Centre Theatre, Level 3, National Library

Brothers spin kid in dryer in high heat

2008-11-20T11:47:00.002+08:00

I was really pissed off when I saw this in the papers today. The recent spate of reports on child abuse made me wonder just why the fuck some people even bother to have kids.

granted that the two men in the photos who were guilty of abusing the pictured toddler and eventually killing her are assholes but the mother... why didn't the mother even do ANYTHING to stop it?

even a beast knows to protect their young from danger but this mother is incomparable to even a beast..