The Days September 4, 2008

When two funny friends (and incidentally, both did our wedding photography) are featured in a movie (made by other other funny friends) as a lao beng (old gangster) and mental patient respectively, you know an objective review is not coming your way. But really, it’s such a fun film to watch, I now wish I had an Ah Beng boyfriend in secondary school (now if only I wasn’t so scared of boys then).

Besides taking fantastic wedding pictures, Anthony Levi Kho  displays a remarkable affinity to acting, dancing and even choreography. Sibeh got talent one lor. And with some really slick production and genuine Bengs whom I actually heard audition (i.e. cursing a lot in Hokkien) two years ago in D’s old office, it makes a really sweet gangster movie (and I never knew I could call a gangster movie sweet).

I  will leave you with the handphone teaser which I think best captures the essence of the film.

Fake old pictures August 29, 2008

We would have made a mighty fine couple in the 1950s I must say.

Get your retro yearbook pictures here

Many thanks to Abi for the intro (though we have an even better surprise for you!)

Factory Shopping August 21, 2008

This is going to sound auntie, but I’m going to say it anyway:

The highlight of my week was grabbing salmon steaks in a giant fridge at Fassler.

I was so excited about CHEAP! GOURMET! SEAFOOD! CHEAP! that I stayed in the freezer room a little too long oohing and aaahing at the gorgeous slabs of tuna tatakis and seafood terrines. By the time I got out, my hands were numb (but full).

Next door was this place (forgot name so won’t be tempted to buy) selling every kind of sausage on the face of this earth, as well as some impressive looking roasts. A colleague was spotted running gleefully towards the building exclaiming, “Meat heaven! Meat heaven!” Their bratwursts apparently rock.

And if you just walk down a little more, there’s Foodedge selling CHEAP! GOURMET! ICE-CREAM! CHEAP! I’ve tried the mango sorbet, it’s pretty good. And if it’s too much of a hassle to come down to the ulu North, they take online orders and do deliveries too.

Basically, these factories supply their products to hotels and restaurants all over Singapore but if you buy from them directly here, there are plenty of savings to be made. Like factory outlet shopping - only in this case, the foodstuff may even be better because it’s fresh from the source.

With the inflated prices of food, I’ve been finding it harder and harder to find good quality food at reasonable prices these days. With today’s visit,  I realise that WAH! there are actually plenty of food suppliers in the Ulu North selling at wholesale prices (finally, something noteworthy about this area). Loveleh.

Two Tales July 12, 2008

After the little complaint about the censored short story, author Wena Poon dropped an e-mail suggesting that I check out the rest of her short stories in their (untouched) entirety. I managed to get a copy from the library and read this book through the week. For some strange reason, it provided a little reprieve from the very localised issues I was facing at work. Perhaps because the characters were all displaced (but in a familiar sort of way) which in turn took me out of my present situation. Two stories I liked:

“The Man Who Was Afraid of ATMs” reminds me of all the pictures of rosy-cheeked mum’s friend’s children in bright checkered blazers that were sent back. With a tinge of envy, my mum would show me these glossy photographs, and sometimes even prop them up on the hall mantel. In particular, Sharon from Toronto’s pictures were a big favourite, because this kid just radiated with pure joy. I’ve learned over the years that my mum’s greatest regret was not staying longer in London, and as such I only have one set of blazer-adorned studio photos, which she hates because my nose looks too flat (”I just want to keep pinching it.”) I’m glad for this other side of the immigrant story with this unassimilated ATM grandpa character, which I realised is an issue many of my overseas friends hardly ever talk about.

“The Shooting Ranch” was a rather dark tale of a Singaporean family in Nevada. One line which made my heart break a little: “I just wanted to get married to a Singaporean Christian man and settle down and have a simple life.” Many Christian women hunt down Christian men because of religious compatibility (and implicitly, eternal happiness), but at the end of the day, it’s still a human you are marrying. This human has choices and sometimes, the choices will hardly be holy. Disturbingly enough, the anti-Western father antagonist reminded me of a group of Hwa Chong boys who wanted to beat up my male classmates after my female classmates said something sarcastic to them at some sports events in junior college. Apparently, that group hated “outspoken banana females”.

There are eleven stories in all for this collection, all very readable and authentic (from the point of view that there are no flowers, phoenixes and other overtly oriental symbols). I like the neutral, observational tone throughout this collection of stories, which is refreshing since most local literature can get quite angsty. Actually, I am a little unsure whether this is truly “local” literature, but it is a great read for anyone who is a) Singaporean and living abroad b) Singaporean and wanting to live abroad c) Singaporean and has lived abroad for a certain number of years.

The Boat by Nam Le June 11, 2008

I really needed not to sleep at 7pm today so I went for an evening book reading by Australian Vietnamese author Nam Le. His first book, The Boat, has already won some pretty impressive reviews in America and Australia.

In any case, I went there without any prior knowledge of him or the book (was actually expecting long-haired Vietnamese girl), and I also got to the bookshop late given that both me and my Filipino “classmate”, Jaton, are equally hopeless with directions. There was a huge crowd and our view was blocked by bookshelves. But immediately, I was hooked to this guy’s recitations - firstly, because his Aussie accent just sounded so comforting (for some strange reason, I felt homesick for Melbourne) and secondly, he writes bloody damn well and is refreshingly different from the usual cookie cutter “ethnic”/minority literature.

I knew I wanted to get the book after hearing just one chapter. And when the crowd cleared at the end of the reading, I was surprised to see this rather dishy young man (turns out he’s my age) who’s immensely polite and friendly. I ask him what footie team he supports. For that moment, Nam loses that placid writer demeanor and snorts, “Of course it’s Collingwood, what else is there?” he says, exactly like the way Cami’s Michael (also Magpie fan) says it. And we talk a bit about life in Melbourne just like the way I used to do with random tram strangers. Which I thought was extremely down-to-earth of him considering he’s all set to becoming a great and famous writer.

His inscription: “To Melanie, fellow devotee of the greatest city in the world!”

An excerpt from his book can be found here: http://www.all-story.com/issues.cgi?action=show_story&story_id=305

Chungking Express (1994) February 16, 2008

This is a little late to be watching this. But for some strange reason, I’ve always thought that this movie was about a railway station, which didn’t sound very interesting to me. Another Wong Kar Wai film I remember watching is In the Mood For Love, which I caught in some Midwestern arthouse cinema and for some strange reason, everyone started laughing every time Tony Leung slurped on his food. It was most disconcerting and ruined the film for me.But since all these arty movies are at my disposal at the school library (e.g. really way over the head stuff like Un Chien Andalou), I’m trying to be a bit more adventurous with my film diet. And what a delight to watch! A great script with wonderful characterizations - I never thought I could find Faye Wong that lovable especially when she boogies with tongs to California Dreamin! And the always gorgeous Tony Leung is absolutely believable as he gives pep talks to his stuff toys, rags, soap and beer bottles (mostly coz’ I have chats with inanimate objects occasionally too). It’s nice to see Takeshi Kaneshiro act as a fumbling dodo for a change and Lin Ching Hsia remains agelessly beautiful in her final film.

We’re all unlucky in love sometimes. When I am, I go jogging. The body loses water when you jog, so you have none left for tears.

(Tony Leung to a dripping towel): It was such a relief when I saw it crying. It may look different, but it’s still true to itself. It’s still an emotionally charged towel.

Vanilla’s Valentines Story January 31, 2008

(Taken from Vanilla Magazine, Feb 2008, p.31)

Last December, I agreed to take on this “Love of a Lifetime” story assignment for the Valentine’s issue of Vanilla magazine. Even though it was smack during the Christmas period and I was really hoping to enjoy the precious work leave I had, I decided to take it on because well, I felt I could do with good marriage advice. Logistical nightmare aside, I had a great time listening to the stories  of these four couples (married between 6-50 years).  Also, this really beats 1960s Stepford Housewives type marriage prep classes hands down. Some snippets:

“I think the concept of ‘me’ should just disappear if one is planning to settle down.” - Tan Kong Wee

“Love is a decision, not a feeling.” - Raoul Sequeira

“It brings me joy when I see my husband just being himself, all happy and childlike.” - Sharon Han

“She has created so many beautiful memories for me.” - Han Kian Kwang

Do check out the story!

Soulful Billie August 27, 2007

Ironically, it’s my students’ introduction to the “Gloomy Sunday” (aka Hungarian Suicide Song - such emo beings they are) that compelled me to pick up a $6.50 Billie Holiday CD last weekend at some reject CD shop. And boy, what an entrancing listen it has been (especially combined with groggy runny nose medication). I used to find her voice a little strange, but now, somehow, I am finally able to her sense her sorrow and pain. Like Ella Fitzgerald, she sings with soul, unlike that Bubble guy and those sweet young things trying to sound as smoky as possible.

Bubbles would dig this July 6, 2007

The highlight of the week has to be cutie yummylicious Spanish Lemon flavoured cupcakes from Perfect Fairy Cakes made by A’s mummy Karen. Moist and light and just right -  in my favourite shade of baby blue, no less.

The History Boys July 3, 2007

“The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours.” - The History Boys

Great movie. Cute boys. Clever humour which actually got me to use the rusty brain a bit.